2012 Annual Report
Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia
Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II Attorney General of Virginia Office of the Attorney General
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COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA Office of the Attorney General
Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II 900 East Main Street Attorney General Richmond, Virginia23219 804-786-2071 December 28, 2012 FAX 804-786-1991 Virginia Relay Services 800-828-1120 7-1-1
To the Chairs of the Senate and House Courts of Justice Committees and the Virginia State Crime Commission:
I am pleased to present to you the 2012 Annual Report on Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia, pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-515.1.
The Report uses current statewide data to underscore the impact of domestic and sexual violence on the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Report highlights various initiatives undertaken by agencies and organizations in Virginia, including public awareness campaigns, training activities, legislative changes and other statewide efforts to address these critical issues. The Report presents an overview of grant programs and services available to domestic violence and sexual assault victims, as well as the major funding sources for those programs and services. Finally, the Report includes extensive contact information for national, state, and local agencies and programs that work with or provide resources to victims of sexual and domestic violence.
I am proud of the progress we have made in addressing domestic and sexual violence in the Commonwealth of Virginia and I am committed to furthering that progress in the upcoming year. I am confident that Virginia will continue to support programs and initiatives to promote safety for victims and to hold offenders accountable.
Sincerely,
Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II
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Domestic and Office of the Attorney General
Sexual Violence Domestic Violence Initiatives
in Virginia Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II
Attorney General
Patricia L. West 2012 Annual Report
Chief Deputy Attorney General
John F. Childrey Attorney General’s Message iv Deputy Attorney General Public Safety and Enforcement Division Executive Summary V
Patrick W. Dorgan Senior Assistant Attorney General Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia 1
Chief, Special Prosecutions and Organized Crime Section Funding Sources and Grant Programs 17
Corie E. Tillman Wolf 27 Agency Efforts and Initiatives Assistant Attorney General Statewide Facilitator for Victims of Domestic Governor’s Domestic Violence Prevention and Response 58
Violence Advisory Board
Melissa A. McMenemy Legislative Update 2012 59 Program Coordinator V-STOP and Domestic Violence Initiatives Appendix A—Additional Data A-1
Hunter W. Fisher Appendix B—State Agencies and Organizations B-1 Program Coordinator Community Defined Solutions to Violence Appendix C—Domestic and Sexual Violence Programs by C-1 Against Women Locality
Appendix D—Certified Batterer Intervention Programs D-1
Electronic copies of the Attorney General’s 2012 Appendix E—Local Fatality Review Teams E-1 Annual Report on Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia may be downloaded from the Office of the Attorney General’s website at www.ag.virginia.gov. Appendix F—Additional Resources F-1
Cover Image: The images of persons included on the cover are merely representative and are not images of actual victims of sexual or domestic violence.
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Attorney General's Message
Domestic and sexual violence impact thousands of Virginians each year. While we sometimes hear about the tragic consequences of these crimes on the news, cases of domestic and sexual violence are often underreported for various reasons: fear of retaliation, the criminal justice system, or a possible social backlash; lack of information or knowledge of community resources or access to cultural and/or language- specific information; or desire to protect children or family members from the abuse or from the criminal consequences for committing the abuse. As a result, the number of victims in Virginia is grossly underestimated.
These crimes have profound and serious consequences, not only for their victims, but also for families, schools, workplaces and communities. We must all work together to ensure victim safety and to achieve justice in these cases. Agencies and organizations across the Commonwealth continue to address the needs of victims through services, to create programs to respond to and to prevent such tragic cases, and to hold offenders accountable. Due to the far reaching effects of these crimes, it is only through collaboration that we can address the needs of victims and put an end to domestic and sexual violence.
Finding ways to prevent and to respond to these crimes has been a personal mission of mine. While a student at the University of Virginia, I worked to bring awareness to the issue of campus sexual assault by helping to establish a student group to prevent sexual assault. While serving in the Virginia Senate, I supported and voted for legislation to strengthen Virginia’s domestic violence laws. As Attorney General, I have supported legislation to improve the protective order process and combat human trafficking. I continue to support the efforts of the Office of the Attorney General, as well as other agencies and organizations across the Commonwealth, to respond to and to prevent domestic and sexual violence.
I would like to thank the following agencies and organizations for their continued collaboration and willingness to work closely with the Office of the Attorney General to address domestic and sexual violence issues in Virginia: the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Social Services, the Department of State Police, the Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia, the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Virginia Center on Aging, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance.
I am pleased to share with you the efforts these agencies and organizations have undertaken over the past year to address domestic and sexual violence at the state and local levels. As Virginians, we can work together to increase awareness and to address these devastating crimes that plague every facet of our communities and bring hope, support, and assistance to victims, their families, and the community.
Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II
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Executive Summary
Domestic and sexual violence impact our families, homes, communities, schools, and workplaces on a daily basis. Domestic and sexual violence impact all socio-economic levels, cultures, and religions. Whether the impact is open and obvious, such as a tragic homicide that receives media attention and spurs a community to action, or hidden and subtle, such as the emotional and psychological effect on children who silently live with the violence, domestic and sexual violence can penetrate even the deepest levels of our society.
The available data highlights the impact of these crimes in Virginia. It is estimated that, based upon the most recent data available, in 2011, at least 134 men, women, and children lost their lives to domestic violence, representing a 21% decrease in family and intimate partner homicides from 2010 to 2011.1 Also in 2011, there were more than 64,000 calls to domestic and sexual violence hotlines across the state.2 A total of 6,609 adults and children received 203,025 nights of emergency or temporary shelter due to domestic violence; however, 3,100 families requesting shelter services were turned away due to lack of shelter space.3 A total of 44,277 emergency protective orders were issued by magistrates and judges across the Commonwealth to protect the immediate health and safety of victims and their 4 family members.
During the 2012 Session, the General Assembly passed legislation to continue to improve and strengthen laws surrounding domestic and sexual violence. The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 459 and House Bill 752 to create a new felony offense for strangulation, a dangerous and deadly offense that is unfortunately all too common in domestic violence cases. The General Assembly also passed House Bill 973 and Senate Bill 436 to provide for a mandatory minimum life sentence in cases involving rape, forcible sodomy, or object sexual penetration of a child under the age of thirteen, where the offender is eighteen years of age or older at the time of the offense. Additional bills, including House Bill 1033 and Senate Bills 300 and 445, were passed to clarify the protective order process.
In 2012, Virginia’s state and local agencies and organizations provided tools and resources to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, victim advocates, health care providers, social service providers, and allied professionals. State, local, and private partners also promoted public awareness and prevention initiatives and supported collaborative efforts among agencies and organizations to enhance the overall response to domestic and sexual violence. For example:
• The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia (OES) continued its implementation and expansion of the I-CAN! Virginia program, a free online program that enables a person to complete and print out the forms necessary to petition for a protective order in Virginia’s district courts. In early 2012, the OES launched a new I-CAN! Virginia module for Virginia’s general district courts, expanding the I-CAN! Virginia system to include two types of protective orders, family abuse and non-family abuse. I-CAN! Virginia also underwent a design change to incorporate both courts into the system and become more user friendly. From January 1, 2012 thru September 30, 2012, 507 users accessed I-CAN! Virginia and printed the forms necessary to petition for a protective order.
v • The Virginia Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant, a partnership of five state agencies and two statewide nonprofit organizations, collaborated to provide intensive training and technical assistance at the state and local levels to promote practices that enhance victim safety and offender accountability. In 2012, the partnership provided training and technical assistance to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, advocates, and allied professionals on domestic and sexual violence issues, as well as building an effective coordinated community response.
• The Family and Children's Trust Fund (FACT) received a $20,000 grant award from The Allstate Foundation to conduct financial empowerment training to survivors of domestic violence through the "Moving Ahead Through Financial Management Curriculum." FACT also embarked on a joint training effort with the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance entitled, “Changing Our View of Sexual Violence: A Community Response to Prevention.” The joint training effort, which took place in May 2012, provided approximately 300 family violence service providers with information on primary sexual violence prevention, an examination of best practices that address forms of sexual violence, and a discussion on ways communities can collaborate to prevent sexual violence.
• The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) brought awareness to the issues of domestic and sexual violence and their impact on victims. The OAG, in conjunction with the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, hosted a two-day training on implementing a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting sexual violence cases. The OAG also held a blanket and pillow drive during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) to provide new blankets and pillows to the Eastern Shore Coalition Against Domestic Violence for the use of incoming shelter residents and their children during and after their stay in the shelter.
• The Department of Health (VDH) conducted four workshops and a train-the-trainer session on Project RADAR, resulting in 30 new trainers and nearly 200 health care professionals trained in the RADAR method for intimate partner violence screening. Educational materials were disseminated statewide to all community health centers, free clinics, and campus health centers. In addition, VDH continued the groundbreaking work of Project Connect, which seeks to develop comprehensive models of public health prevention and intervention that can lead to improved health and safety for victims of sexual and domestic violence. In 2012, two Project Connect train-the-trainer sessions were held, certifying 25 family planning providers and 13 home visitors to facilitate Project Connect workshops locally. An additional 14 workshops were held with a total of 211 participants. It is estimated that participants in these training sessions have the ability to reach 83,299 unduplicated patients and 1,117 clients, respectively, annually.
• The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (Action Alliance) continued to expand and strengthen The Red Flag Campaign to address dating violence and promote the prevention of dating violence on college campuses. In 2012, three Virginia campuses joined The Red Flag Campaign as “Partner Campuses.” The Action Alliance also re-launched the Building Healthy Futures Fund to sustain and expand prevention efforts across the state by creating a shared revenue between the Action Alliance and its member sexual and domestic violence agencies.
• The Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) contributed information to the 2012 Annual Report for the first time this year. In 2012, DOC continued its work statewide to meet the
vi requirements of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). DOC also continued its work within the state prison system to provide programs for inmates who are victims of domestic and sexual violence, as well as for inmates who are domestic and sexual violence offenders. Through its Victim Services Unit, DOC worked closely with victims of offenders under its custody to provide a range of services, including victim registration and notification, offender status and location information, offender release plans, victim awareness education, and impact of crime education for offenders.
• The Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council (CASC) provided training to hundreds of prosecutors across the Commonwealth on issues related to domestic violence and sexual assault through both large statewide trainings and smaller topic-specific trainings. CASC again offered an intensive five-day training program to sexual violence prosecutors and investigators, entitled “Trauma to Trial: Investigating and Prosecuting Adult Non-Stranger Sexual Assault,” to 15 prosecutor/investigator teams from across the state. At its Spring Institute and Summer Conference, CASC offered topic-specific training on human trafficking, handling cases involving defendants suffering from combat related trauma, long-term family abuse, the use of therapy dogs to help traumatized victims, and strategies for preventing witness intimidation.
• The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), with funding through the Virginia Partnership for Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women (CDS), continued to work directly with Virginia communities to establish domestic violence related local or regional fatality review teams. The goal of these teams is to enable localities to thoroughly examine the dynamics and circumstances associated with domestic violence related death in order to identify and implement prevention strategies and improve the community’s overall response to domestic violence. In 2012, OCME worked to design a web-based data collection tool and report system to facilitate the work of the local teams. A total of 17 local or regional teams currently exist.
• The Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA) was part of a collaborative effort among nine statewide agencies and nine Bristol and Washington County agencies that was awarded funding by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), United States Department of Justice, through its 2012 Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women Later in Life Program. This three-year initiative, Virginia Elder Justice Training and Services, will be administered by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
• The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) completed comprehensive revisions to two law enforcement model policies: one on the law enforcement response to domestic violence, and one on the law enforcement response to sexual assault. DCJS continued to promote best practices for sexual assault response teams (SART) across the Commonwealth.
In addition, these agencies and organizations identified and collected data on family and intimate partner violence-related fatalities, domestic and sexual violence-related crimes, protective orders, and services to victims and children in order to assist with providing a broader picture of these issues that confront our communities. Much of that information is included in this Report.
As we enter 2013, we must continue to support the efforts of agencies and programs across the Commonwealth that work tirelessly to promote victim safety and offender accountability, while learning new ways to provide services both efficiently and effectively.
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1. Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Domestic Violence Services in Virginia – VAdata Report 2011 (2012). 2. Information from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia Department of Health. The number for domestic violence homicides in 2011 is current as of December 2012. This number may change, however, as some cases from 2011 remain under investigation. 3. Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Domestic Violence Services in Virginia – VAdata Report 2011 (2012). 4. Information provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia.
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Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia
Domestic and sexual violence have direct physical and emotional consequences for tens of thousands of victims, family members, and children. These crimes do not discriminate – they impact women and men of all ages, races, and ethnic groups and from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Domestic and sexual violence also impact the community as a whole – from our homes and neighborhoods to our schools and workplaces. These crimes also present challenges for a wide range of professionals who deal with these issues on a daily basis, including law enforcement officers, prosecutors, advocates, social services workers, judges, magistrates, court personnel, probation officers, health professionals, and others.
Agencies and organizations across the Commonwealth of Virginia devote significant resources to the prevention of and response to domestic violence and sexual assault incidents. These agencies and organizations continuously collect data to assess current programs and services in an effort to ensure the best resources at the state and local level. By compiling the data available from stakeholder agencies and organizations in a range of disciplines, this Report aims to facilitate an understanding of the impact of these issues on our families and communities.
What is Domestic Violence?
According to the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, domestic violence is defined as“*a+ pattern of abusive behaviors used by one individual intended to exert power and control 1 over another individual in the context of an intimate or family relationship.”
The Code of Virginia defines “domestic violence” more broadly as:
[t]he occurrence of one or more of the following acts by a current or former family member, household member as defined in § 16.1-228, person against whom the victim obtained a protective order or caretaker:
a. Attempting to cause or causing or threatening another person physical harm, severe emotional distress, psychological trauma, rape or sexual assault;
b. Engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts toward another person, including following the person without proper authority, under circumstances that place the person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or physical harm;
c. Subjecting another person to false imprisonment; or
d. Attempting to cause or causing damage to property so as to intimidate or attempt to control the behavior of another person.
Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-508.
Based upon the above Code definition, domestic violence may include elder abuse, abuse of incapacitated adults between the ages of 18 and 59, child abuse, stalking, dating violence, sexual abuse, and trafficking in women and children. Other terms often used in the Code and elsewhere to describe
1 domestic violence and the various relationships that fall within the broader definition of domestic 2 violence include "family abuse" (see below), “spousal abuse,” and “intimate partner violence.”
This Report and much of the data collected focuses on the broader definition of "domestic violence" as set forth by the Code of Virginia.
What is "Family Abuse?"
While the Code does include a broad definition for "domestic violence," the definition most often referenced in Virginia domestic violence cases is the definition for "family abuse:"
"Family abuse" means any act involving violence, force, or threat that results in bodily injury or places one in reasonable apprehension of death, sexual assault, or bodily injury and that is committed by a person against such person's family or household member. Such act includes, but is not limited to, any forceful detention, stalking, criminal sexual assault in violation of Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2, or any criminal offense that results in bodily injury or places one in reasonable apprehension of death, sexual assault, or bodily injury.
Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-228. The "family abuse" definition centers primarily on the relationship between the parties, defined as "family and household members.
"Family or household member" means (i) the person's spouse, whether or not he or she resides in the same home with the person, (ii) the person's former spouse, whether or not he or she resides in the same home with the person, (iii) the person's parents, stepparents, children, stepchildren, brothers, sisters, half-brothers, half-sisters, grandparents and grandchildren, regardless of whether such persons reside in the same home with the person, (iv) the person's mother-in-law, father-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law who reside in the same home with the person, (v) any individual who has a child in common with the person, whether or not the person and that individual have been married or have resided together at any time, or (vi) any individual who cohabits or who, within the previous 12 months, cohabited with the person, and any children of either of them then residing in the same home with the person.
Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-228.
What is Sexual Violence?
The terms “sexual assault” or “sexual violence” imply sexual contact without consent and with or without the use or threat of force, regardless of the relationship of the parties. Pursuant to the Code of Virginia, sexual offenses include rape (§18.2-61), forcible sodomy (§18.2-67.1), object sexual penetration (§18.2-67.2), aggravated sexual battery (§18.2-67.3), sexual battery (§18.2-67.4), and attempted sexual offenses (§18.2-67.5). For state crime reporting purposes, the Incident Based Reporting System used by the Virginia Department of State Police defines “forcible sexual offenses” as
2 forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling. “Non-forcible sexual offenses” include incest and statutory rape.3 For federal reporting purposes, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting System defines a forcible rape as “the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.” Sexual offenses are defined as “offenses against chastity, common decency, morals, and the like” and include incest, statutory rape, indecent exposure, and attempted 4 sexual offenses.
Domestic and Sexual Violence Offenses
• Preliminary data for 2011 indicates a 21.2% decrease in family and intimate partner homicides from 2010 to 2011.
• From 2006 to 2010, the number of victims of violent crime increased by 1.4%, while the number of victims of domestic violence increased by 8.6%.
• From 2006 to 2010, the total number of older domestic violence victims (age 65 and older) increased by 35%.
• In 2011, there were 22,557 arrests for assault and battery against a family or household member.
Domestic Violence-Related Homicides
The ultimate tragedy in any family or community is the occurrence of an untimely or avoidable death. Between 1999 and 2010, a total of 1,693 people in Virginia lost their lives to domestic and dating 5 violence.
In 2010 alone, there were 170 domestic and dating violence-related homicides. Deaths from family and intimate partner violence represented 43.5% of the 391 homicides in Virginia in 2010.6 (Figure 1) Common risk factors identified in these domestic violence homicides include the following:
• The relationship between the victim and the alleged offender had ended or was ending, 51.9%. • The alleged offender had been arrested and/or convicted of non-domestic violence related offenses, 38.3%. • There was a known history of physical assault between the intimate partners, 37.0%. • The alleged offender abused alcohol, 32.1%. • The victim had a child who was not the biological child of the intimate partner, 32.1%. • The alleged offender used illegal drugs, 27.2%. • The victim began an intimate relationship with someone else, and/or the alleged offender perceived the victim began an intimate relationship with someone else, 25.9%. • Prior 911 calls or calls to law enforcement were placed for domestic violence response, 23.5%. • Current or past protective order in place, 23.5%.
3 7 • Victim had threatened to be killed by alleged offender, 18.5%.
A preliminary review of homicide data for 2011 indicates that there were 134 family and intimate partner homicides in 2011, representing approximately 38.8% of all homicides (345 homicides) for the year.8 So far, these preliminary statistics indicate a 21.2% decrease in the number of identified family and intimate partner homicides from 2010 to 2011.9 (Figure 1)
Figure 1: Relationship of Family and Intimate Partner Homicides to Total Homicides, 1999-2011
2011 211 134 39.0% Preliminary data
2010 221 170 43.5%
2009 271 139 33.9%
2008 247 149 37.6%
2007 314 126 28.6%
2006 283 143 33.6% All Other Homicides
2005 348 148 29.8% Family and Intimate Partner Homicides
2004 288 135 31.9% Percentage of Family and Intimate 2003 330 131 28.4% Partner Homicides
2002 299 125 29.5%
2001 297 130 30.4%
2000 307 148 32.5%
1999 289 146 33.6%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Number of Homicides
10 Source: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia Department of Health.
4 In its ongoing surveillance of domestic violence homicides, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner compiled data on family and intimate partner homicides that occurred in Virginia from 1999 to 2010. From 1999-2010, the percentage of domestic violence-related homicides remained relatively 11 consistent: roughly one in three homicides was attributable to family and intimate partner violence.
In addition, the surveillance data revealed a number of important trends:
• Males and females were both vulnerable to domestic violence homicide. While females had a greater probability of being killed by a current or former intimate partner, males were more frequently killed while in the “crossfire” of an intimate partner relationship or by a family member. • Racial disparities continued throughout the study period. Black Virginians were at a significantly greater risk for domestic violence homicide than other racial/ethnic groups for each year studied. Infants were the most vulnerable age group with the highest homicide rate for each year of the study period. This rate was higher than any other age, racial/ethnic, or gender group. • A firearm was most commonly used to inflict the fatal injury in every year studied. 12 • In every year, homicide events were most likely to occur in a residence.
Domestic Violence-Related Offenses
Domestic violence results in or can be a factor in any number of violent crimes. In 2011, approximately 15.3% of 18,196 violent crimes committed in Virginia and reported to law enforcement agencies were committed against family members or intimate dating partners.13 Approximately 47.3% 14 of all violent crimes reported occurred in the home.
In August 2011, the Department of Criminal Justice Services Research Center collected and analyzed data on domestic violence incidents reported to law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth from 2006 to 2010. The data included information on reports and arrests for violent and sexual assault offenses that occurred within the context of a domestic victim-offender relationship.15 The report, Domestic Violence in Virginia, 2006-2010: Statistical Findings from Incidents Reported by Law Enforcement, revealed a number of important statistics related to domestic violence offenses in Virginia during the five year time period.
From 2006 to 2010:
16 • The number of male victims of domestic violence increased by 17%. • The overall number of violent crime victims increased by 1.4% (from 122,400 to 124,174), however the number of domestic violence victims increased by 8.6% (from 49,087 to 17 53,294). The total population of Virginia increased by 4.1% during this same time period. 18 • Arrests for domestic violence-related offenses increased by almost 19%. 19 • Seven out of ten victims of domestic violence were female. • The total number of older domestic violence victims (age 65 and older) increased by 35% from 2006-2010. Overall, older victims represented 1.6% of all domestic violence victims, 20 and were overrepresented as victims of domestic robbery (6%).
5 • Domestic violence incidents were most common among boyfriends/girlfriends (36%) and 21 spouses (20%). 22 • More than half (52%) of victims suffered a non-fatal injury during the incident. • Domestic violence offenders were most likely to be white males between the ages of 25 and 23 34. 24 • The majority of domestic violence offenders (61%) were younger than age 35.
Assaults
Of the violent crimes reported in 2011, there were 7,699 aggravated assault offenses, with 8,841 victims. The crimes reported in this category include assaults, attempted murder, poisoning, assault with a deadly weapon, maiming, mayhem, assault with explosives, and assault with disease (knowledge of infection and attempt to infect another). Of the total aggravated assaults reported, approximately one in five assaults (21.0%) were committed against family members or dating partners.25 The overall proportion of domestic violence-related aggravated assaults to total aggravated assaults has 26 remained relatively consistent on a yearly basis.
Assault, whether aggravated or simple assault, is the most common violent offense experienced by domestic violence victims. According to Incident-Based Reporting (IBR) data collected by the Department of State Police and analyzed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, from 2006- 2010, 85.8% of the reported offenses against domestic violence victims during the five year period were simple assaults; 5.0% were aggravated assaults (see definition above); 5.1% were intimidation offenses (including stalking); and the remaining 4.2% were other violent crimes, including homicide, robbery, and 27 forcible sex offenses.
In 2011, 22,557 arrests were made across the Commonwealth for assault and battery against a family or household member.28 Of the charges filed, 5,403, or 24%, resulted in convictions.29 Of these arrests, a significant number of individuals were charged as repeat offenders. There were 1,3136 felony charges for third or subsequent offenses of assault and battery against a family or household member, resulting in 853 (65%) convictions.30Felony conviction for assault and battery against a family or household member increased by 68% from 2010 to 2011. Additional charge and disposition information for assault and battery offenses is provided in Appendix A.
Stalking Use of Technology in Stalking Cases Another crime closely related to domestic violence is stalking. Sixty-Six percent (66%) of female Stalking is commonly defined as “a pattern of behavior directed at a 31 victims and 41% of male victims of specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.” stalking are stalked by a current or In Virginia, stalking is defined by the Code as: former intimate partner. Intimate partner stalkers frequently approach Any person…who on more than one occasion engages in their targets, and their behaviors conduct directed at another person with the intent to place, escalate quickly. or when he knows or reasonably should know that the conduct places that other person in reasonable fear of death, Forty Six percent (46%) of stalking criminal sexual assault, or bodily injury to that other person or victims experience at least one to that other person's family or household member. unwanted contact per week.
32 From The Stalking Resource Center, Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.3(A). National Center for Victims of Crime,
6 Stalking Fact Sheet, www.ncvc.org.
33 Each year, an estimated 6.6 million people in the United States are the victims of stalking.
During 2011, a total of 787 arrests were made for stalking, resulting in 138 convictions.34 The majority of stalking cases resulted in non-convictions (570 cases or 72%).35 Overall, the total number of arrests for stalking declined from 2010 to 2011 by 16%. While stalking arrests decreased substantially in 2011, it should be noted that the number of emergency protective orders for acts of violence, threat, or harm (formerly referred to as "stalking" or stalking/sexual battery/serious bodily injury protective orders) increased during this time period, specifically since the change in protective order laws that took effect on July 1, 2011. There were 643 "stalking" emergency protective orders (EPOs) issued for stalking from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011. Between July 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011, however, there were 7,182 EPOs issued for acts of violence, threat, or force. Likewise, arrests for violating the protective order for acts of violence, threat or force increased by 70% from 2010 to 2011 and convictions increased by 63%.
Sex Offenses • In 2011, there were 1,422 adult and juvenile arrests The total number of violent crimes for sexual offenses including forcible rape, forcible reported in 2011 includes 4,768 forcible sex sodomy, sexual assault with an object, forcible offenses involving 5,104 victims. Forcible sex fondling, incest, and statutory rape. Of these arrests, offenses reported include forcible rape, forcible nearly one in five (18%) were juvenile arrests. sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling. Of the reported victims of • Nearly two-thirds (61%) of reported victims, both forcible sex offenses, the vast majority (85%) male and female, were under the age of eighteen. 36 were female. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of reported victims, both male and female, were • Approximately one in three (32%) of the reported 37 under the age of eighteen. Approximately one forcible sex offenses were committed against family in four (25%) of the reported forcible sex members or intimate dating partners. offenses involved offenses committed against 38 family members or intimate dating partners. • Sex offenses remain largely unreported to law enforcement. Only one-half (51%) of those The majority of forcible sex offenses individuals who sought sexual violence crisis services (78%) were committed by perpetrators known in Virginia in 2011 had reported the incident to law by or acquainted with the victim, including a enforcement. substantial percentage of offenses committed by family or household members or dating partners (33%). Of the remaining offenses reported, 15% were committed by unknown/unreported assailants and 7% were committed by strangers.39 (Figure 2)
7 Figure 2: Forcible Sex Offenses - Relationship of Victim to Offender, 2011
Unknown 15.0%
Famiy Member 28.0% Known to Victim, But Not Family Member or Dating Partner Dating Partner 45.0% Stranger 5.0% 7.0%
Source: Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2011 (2012).
In addition, the majority of forcible sex offenses reported in 2011 occurred in a residence or home (68%). (Table 1)
TABLE 1: Number of Forcible Sex Offenses – Most Reported Locations of Offense, 2011
Sexual Forcible Forcible Forcible Assault Location Rape Sodomy Fondling w/Object (n=1,527) (n=569) (n=2,350) (n=322) Residence/Home 1,101 396 232 1550 School/College 39 24 18 159 Highway/Road/Alley 75 19 18 116 Hotel/Motel 64 17 8 40 Field/Woods 50 17 4 30 Parking Lot/Garage 52 10 3 51 Source: Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2011 (2012).
Of the forcible sex offenses reported by law enforcement agencies in 2011, 1,527 were forcible rapes or attempted rapes that resulted in 1,552 victims. Approximately one-third (36%) of the forcible rapes reported were committed against male and female victims under the age of 18. Another 30% were committed against females between the ages of 18 and 24. As shown in Figure 3, the majority of offenders (43%) were between the ages of 18 and 29.
8 Figure 3: Forcible Rape: Victims and Offenders by Age, 2011
300
250
200
er b
m 150 u N 100
50
0
Age
Victim Offender
Source: Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2011 (2012).
There were 1,422 adult and juvenile arrests in 2011 for sexual offenses including forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, forcible fondling, incest, and statutory rape.40 Arrests of juvenile offenders accounted for nearly one in five (18%) arrests.41 Despite the trauma to individuals and families associated with these types of offenses, these arrests represented only 1% of all recorded arrests by law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth.
Underreporting of Domestic and Sexual Violence Offenses
While criminal reports and arrest data can provide some picture of the impact of domestic and sexual violence on law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the courts, the data does not capture the significant number of overall offenses that go unreported by victims.
Further, according to information analyzed by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance in 2011, just more than half (52%) of the individuals who sought domestic violence advocacy services in Virginia had reported the presenting domestic violence experience to law enforcement. Similarly, approximately 51% of those individuals who sought sexual violence crisis services in Virginia had reported the incident to law enforcement.
9 Protective Orders
A protective order is a document issued by a court to protect a victim and a victim’s family or household members from an abusive person. Protective orders can be issued in cases of family abuse, stalking, sexual battery, aggravated sexual battery, and cases involving serious bodily injury. Protective orders can be issued on an emergency basis (for up to three days), on a “preliminary” or temporary basis 42 (usually for 15 days), or on a “permanent” basis (for up to two years).
In 2011, the protective order system in Virginia underwent a number of legislative changes. Protective orders (formerly protective orders for stalking, sexual battery, aggravated sexual battery, and criminal offenses resulting in serious bodily injury) were made available to a larger class of persons based upon a broader range of conduct. In addition, the provisions for family abuse protective orders and protective orders were made more consistent, including the penalties for repeat violations.
As the legislative changes to the protective order system were recently enacted, and due to the inconsistency of data collected by the relevant agencies, it is still somewhat unclear how these changes have impacted the issuance of protective orders as reflected by the available data, including the number of protective orders issued or the number of arrests for protective order violations. Preliminary data related to the issuance of emergency protective orders, however, suggests a significant increase in the number of those orders sought under the new system, particularly after the change in law on July 1, 2011. (See Figures 4 and 5)
Family Abuse Protective Orders are designed to protect a victim and his or her family or household members from the physically abusive or threatening conduct of another family or household member. In order for these orders to be issued, the family or household relationship must exist between the parties, and the victim must show that he or she is or has been subjected to family abuse. (Va. Code Ann. §§ 16.1-253.4, 16.1-253.1, 16.1-279.1)
Protective Orders are also designed to protect a victim of violent or threatening behavior and his or her family members from the conduct or threats of another. These protective orders are issued when a victim “(i) is or has been…subjected to an act of violence, force, or threat, or (ii) a petition or warrant has been issued for the arrest of the alleged perpetrator for any criminal offense resulting from the commission of an act of violence, force, or threat. (Va. Code Ann. §§ 19.2-152.8-152.10)
On an average day, the Virginia State Police estimates that there are more than 14,000 active protective orders on file in the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN).43 This number includes emergency, preliminary, and final orders.
In 2011, 44,277 emergency protective orders were issued by magistrates across the Commonwealth, which includes 36,452 protective orders in family abuse cases and 7,825 protective orders in acts of force, violence, or threat cases. The total number of emergency protective orders issued in 2011 was 18% higher than in 2010.44 (Figures 4 and 5)
Also in 2011, a total of 36,614 preliminary (PPO) and final protective orders (PO) were issued by courts across the Commonwealth.45 (Figure 4) It should be noted that the data on the number of family abuse protective order petitions filed and family abuse protective orders issued in Virginia's juvenile and domestic relations district courts (provided below) are significantly lower than the data provided in
10 previous years by the Office of the Executive Secretary. In prior years, the data provided reflected the number of persons protected by protective orders rather than the number of protective orders issued. This resulted in inaccurate data about the actual number of preliminary and final protective orders issued, as multiple persons could be protected on a single order. Additionally, the data on protective orders from prior years combined family abuse and non-family abuse protective orders.
It is also important to note that prior to April 2012, protective order cases involving juvenile respondents were not entered into the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Case Management System (JCMS) in a way that would allow them to be distinguished from other case data. Accordingly, family abuse protective order cases involving juvenile respondents are not included in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court data provided below for the timeframe prior to April 2012. Recent changes to the system now allow those cases to be distinguished. Finally, it should be noted that the data presented in this Report does not include preliminary protective orders (PPO) because all cases in which a PPO was issued currently cannot be identified in the case management systems.
Figure 4: Number of Emergency Protective Orders Issued, 2009-2011
50,000 44,277 45,000
40,000 36,922 35,846 35,000
30,000
25,000 Number 20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2009 2010 2011
Source: Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia
11 Figure 5: Number of Emergency Protective Orders Issued by Month, 2011
5000
4500
1,368
4000 1,356
1,295 995 3500 1,157 106 167 1,011 79 3000 77 113
2500 101 Acts of Force, Violence, Threat
2000
3
6 3,562
3,400 1500 3,228 3,086 3,071 3,065 3,0 3,039 2,873 2,858 2,808 Family Abuse 1000 2,399
500
0
Source: Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia
Enforcement of protective orders is critical to their effectiveness in protecting victims from further acts of abuse. Although primarily issued as civil orders, certain violations of family abuse protective order provisions result in criminal prosecution.46 In addition, the violation of any provision of a protective order issued for an act of force, violence or threat (formerly a protective order for stalking, 47 serious bodily injury, or sexual battery/aggravated sexual battery) results in criminal sanctions.
In 2011, 3,317 persons were arrested for violating family abuse protective orders.48 An additional 288 arrests were made for violation of protective orders issued for acts of violence, force, or threat.49 More than one in three (39%) of the reported protective order arrests in 2011 resulted in convictions.
Arrests for violation of family abuse protective orders increased 0.5% from 2010 to 2011. Arrests for family abuse protective orders increased substantially after July 1, 1997, when Virginia Code 50 § 19.2-81.3 was amended to require law enforcement officers to arrest for protective order violations. Since 2007, the number of arrests for family abuse protective orders has become more consistent on a yearly basis. (Figure 6)
12 Figure 6: Arrests for Family Abuse Protective Order Violations, 1997 to 2011
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
Number 1500
1000
500
0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Source: Virginia State Police.
While arrests for family abuse protective orders remained stable from 2010 to 2011, arrests for protective orders issued for acts of violence, threat, or force increased 216% during that same time period (91 in 2010 to 288 in 2011).51 As indicated above, effective July 1, 2011, the protective order system in Virginia underwent a number of legislative changes, particularly related to the availability of non-family abuse protective orders, or "protective orders for acts of violence, force, or threat," (formerly protective orders for stalking, sexual battery, aggravated sexual battery, and criminal offenses resulting in serious bodily injury), which became available to a larger class of persons based upon a broader range of conduct. While the data suggests a significant increase in the arrest rate for violations of these orders in 2011, the impact of the recent legislative changes on numbers of arrests will continue to be analyzed for longer-term trends in future reports.
Finally, service of protective orders by local law enforcement agencies in Virginia has improved in recent years. According to an audit of protective order records in the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) conducted by the Virginia State Police (VSP) in January 2006, an average of 44% of all active protective orders on file had been served on the abusive party. In October 2009, the results of the audit by VSP showed vast improvement: an average of 93% of all active protective orders on file had been served on the abusive party. The service rate for protective orders continues to be strong. As of November 2011, the service rate for protective orders is approximately 87%.52 While the service rate has decreased since November 2010 (93%), the overall service rate continues to be strong.
13
Persons Receiving Domestic Violence Services in 2011
• 21% reported that the perpetrator used a weapon against the victim (including firearms).
• 34% reported that they had to relocate or become homeless as a result of the domestic violence.
• 52% reported that they had reported the presenting domestic violence event to the police.
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Domestic Violence Services in Virginia - VAdata Report, 2011 (2012).
Services to Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence
Domestic and sexual violence cases have a distinct impact on the criminal justice system. These offenses also impact social services and other agencies that provide direct services to victims and their families. Domestic and sexual violence service providers engage in crisis intervention and provide hotline, shelter, and advocacy services to thousands of victims and their children each year. Among the advocacy services provided are: education, safety planning, group and individual counseling, mental health services, accompaniment to court, referral to legal services, financial and housing assistance, and transportation.
The demand for sexual and domestic violence crisis services continues to rise. (Figures 7 and 8) From 2009-2011, sexual violence crisis services provided to adults and children increased by 6% and domestic violence crisis services provided to adults and children experienced an 18% increase with a 53 12% increase in the nights of emergency shelter provided to victims of domestic violence.
14 Figure 7: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline Calls, 2006-2011
70,000
65,000
60,000
55,000
50,000
Number 45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Hotline Calls Linear (Hotline Calls) Source: Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Domestic Violence Services in Virginia, VAdata Reports 2006- 2011 (2006-2012).
In 2011, local domestic and sexual violence service providers from 51 local programs responded to 64,877 hotline calls through Virginia domestic and sexual violence hotlines.54 Through hotline calls, local programs responded to requests for services, including crisis intervention, counseling and support, emergency housing/shelter, emergency financial assistance, safety planning, transportation, and information/referral. Local domestic violence programs also provided a total of 274,222 hours of 55 advocacy services to 15,205 adults and 4,839 children.
Figure 8: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services to Adults and Children, 2006-2011 16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000 DV Services Adults 8,000 DV Services Children
6,000 SV Services Adults SV Services Children 4,000
2,000
0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Source: Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Domestic Violence Services in Virginia, VAdata Reports 2006- 2011 (2007-2012).
15 Through public and private funding sources, emergency and temporary shelter services are provided to thousands of men, women, and children who are victims of domestic violence. In 2011, shelter programs provided 203,025 nights of emergency shelter to 3,825 adults and 2,784 children due to domestic violence.56 These figures do not include the number of domestic violence victims who seek emergency shelter in non-domestic violence shelters. The overall number of nights of emergency shelter provided increased by 7% from 2010 to 2011. The number of adults increased by 5% and the number of children increased by 6% who received emergency shelter services in 2011.
Not all victims who requested shelter services in 2011 were able to secure shelter accommodations. A total of 3,100 families who requested shelter services in 2011 were turned away, representing a 17% increase from 2010.57 (Figure 9)
Figure 9: Shelter Services - Victims Sheltered and Turned Away, 2005-2011
2011
2010
2009 Not Sheltered Due to Lack of Space 2008 Children Sheltered
2007 Adults Sheltered
2006
2005
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000
Source: Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Domestic Violence Services in Virginia – VAdata Reports 2005- 2011 (2006-2012).
In addition to emergency shelter needs, local domestic violence programs also assist victims and their families with housing support services to ease their transition from shelter to independent living arrangements. In 2011, local programs provided 96,178 nights of transitional housing to 349 adults and 58 children.
16 Persons Receiving Sexual Assault Crisis Services in 2011
• 33% reported that the perpetrator used a weapon against the victim (including firearms). • 30% reported that they missed time from work or school or experienced a loss of income due to the sexual assault. • 52% reported that they had reported the sexual assault to police.
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Sexual Violence Services in Virginia– VAdata Report, 2011 (2012).
In 2011, sexual violence service providers in 37 sexual assault crisis centers across the Commonwealth provided 4,734 adult and 1,899 child victims with 84,469 hours of advocacy services in an effort to ease the emotional trauma and to facilitate the reporting process.59 (Figure 8) Of the children who received services in local crisis centers, 14% reported that they had been violated by a 60 parent.
Victim/Witness Programs
In addition to domestic violence and sexual assault programs, local and state Victim/Witness Programs provide direct services to victims of crime, including victims of domestic and sexual violence. Currently, there are 104 local grant funded Victim/Witness Programs and 4 statewide victim assistance programs. The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) uses federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds, Victim/Witness Special Funds, and General Funds to make grants to support these programs.
Services provided by Victim/Witness Programs include explaining victims’ rights, assisting victims in obtaining protective orders, explaining and helping victims apply for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund (CICF), notifying victims of case statuses, court dates, and prisoner statuses, explaining the criminal justice process, accompanying victims to court and criminal justice related meetings, assisting victims in preparing victim impact statements, providing crisis intervention, and providing case disposition information.
In FY 2012, Victim/Witness Programs provided direct services to 58,771 crime victims across the Commonwealth, including 15,781 victims of domestic violence.61 These programs also provided services 62 to 1,032 adult victims and 2,172 child victims of sexual assault.
17
Funding Sources and Grant Programs
Funding is critical to an effective response to domestic and sexual violence at the local and state levels. However, funding from both federal and state sources often lacks continuity and consistency due to changing economic conditions and priorities. In recent years, funding from a number of sources has continued to decrease or fluctuate unpredictably. As a result, state and local agencies that rely upon those funding sources must seek alternate funding sources or make difficult decisions regarding the services that can be provided to victims of sexual and domestic violence.
Federal and State Funding
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is a substantial source of federal funding for all states. VOCA funding, administered in Virginia by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), supports domestic and sexual violence programs, victim-witness programs, and programs that provide services to child victims. The amount of VOCA funding to Virginia has fluctuated significantly in recent years. In FY 2008, federal VOCA funding to Virginia was cut by 17%, representing the lowest amount of VOCA funding distributed to Virginia in more than eight years. In FY 2009, however, VOCA funding to Virginia increased again by 18% to a level just slightly below the amount received in FY 2007. The FY 2010 and 2011 VOCA awards increased compared to the prior years, however these increases tended to be offset by reductions in funding available through other sources. For example, a $465,000 reduction in the General Fund appropriation supporting Victim/Witness Programs offset the increase in VOCA funds available to support these programs in state FY 2011. In state FY 2012, the reduction in the General Fund appropriation continued, but the increase in available VOCA funding was sufficient to support modest increases in grant awards. For example, for the first time since state FY 2006, Victim/Witness Programs received a 2% award increase. (Figure 10)
Figure 10: Total VOCA Available for All Programs, FFY2006 - FFY2012
$10,000,000
$9,500,000
$9,000,000
$8,500,000
$8,000,000
$7,500,000
$7,000,000
Source: Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
18 Federal funds awarded to states through the Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (STOP Program) administered by the Office on Violence Against Women increased in CY 2012. Funds allocated for CY 2012 increased slightly to $2,899,721, representing a 1% increase when compared to the CY 2010 award. Despite recent increases, however, federal STOP Program funds to Virginia have experienced an overall decline since FY 2000. (Figure 11)
Figure 11: V-STOP Allocations FFY 1997-2012
$4,000,000
$3,500,000
$3,000,000
$2,500,000 $2,000,000
$1,500,000
$1,000,000
$500,000
$0 V-Stop Allocations
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Source: Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
An overview of state and federal funding sources, as well as the state grant programs that fund local domestic and sexual violence programs, is provided below.
Public-Private Partnerships
Another important, alternative funding source for agencies and programs comes from the private sector. Through public-private partnerships, public agencies collaborate with and receive support from private entities and organizations for a variety of initiatives, including victim services, training, and public awareness.
There are a number of examples of public-private partnerships in Virginia. First, the Attorney General’s Program, “Safe in Our Communities: Community Recognition Program for Promising Practices in Domestic Violence Response,” was launched in October 2008 by the Office of the Attorney General in partnership with Verizon Wireless and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. Through its HopeLine Program, Verizon Wireless provides funding for monetary awards to communities recognized by the Program.
19 A second example of the importance of public-private partnerships is the Red Flag Campaign of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. The Campaign, launched in Virginia in 2007, has since spread across the country to campuses in 28 other states and Canada, including the University of Hawaii, the Culinary Institute of America, and the United States Air Force Academy. It was created in partnership with college students, college personnel, and community victim advocates, and is funded by grants from the Verizon Foundation, Verizon Wireless, Macy’s Foundation, and more recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Finally, Project Connect of the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Prevention and Health Promotion, Injury and Violence Prevention Program, receives funding support through a grant from Futures Without Violence, formerly the Family Violence Prevention Fund, a national nonprofit sexual and domestic violence advocacy coalition. Futures Without Violence receives federal funding from the Office on Women’s Health, and in turn, administers funding to support the groundbreaking multi-state Project Connect initiative to develop comprehensive models of public health prevention and intervention that can lead to improved health and safety for victims of sexual and domestic violence.
63 FUNDING SOURCES
Victims of Crime Act
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is a substantial source of federal funding for all states. VOCA funding, administered in Virginia by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), supports domestic and sexual violence programs, victim-witness programs, and programs that provide services to child victims. The amount of VOCA funding to Virginia has fluctuated significantly in recent years. In FY 2008, federal VOCA funding to Virginia was cut by 17%, representing the lowest amount of VOCA funding distributed to Virginia in more than eight years. In FY 2009, however, VOCA funding to Virginia increased again by 18% to a level just slightly below the amount received in FY 2007. The FY 2010 VOCA award increased compared to the prior year, but this increase tended to be offset by reductions in funding available through other sources. For example, a $465,000 reduction in the General Fund appropriation supporting Victim/Witness Programs offset the increase in VOCA funds available to support these programs in state fiscal year 2012. (Figure 10)
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) was enacted by Congress in 1984 to promote public awareness and prevention of family violence as well as to provide services for victims and their dependents. FVPSA funds enable local programs to provide residential and nonresidential services to victims, including shelter or transitional housing, safety planning, counseling, legal services, child care, services for children, career planning, education, public awareness, and necessities (such as clothing, food, and transportation).
Funds from FVPSA are administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS). In FY 2012, DSS administered $2,098,963 in FVPSA funds, awarding contracts to 47 local programs. In FY 2013, DSS received a slight increase in FVPSA funds, administering a total of $2,109,726.
20 Preventive Health and Human Services
The Preventive Health and Human Services (PHHS) Block Grant is administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services through its administrative agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A portion of these funds are set aside to support sexual assault services and prevention. In 2012, the Virginia Department of Health administered $156,000 in PHHS Sexual Assault Set-Aside funds to the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance to support training for sexual and domestic violence advocacy professionals, data and evaluation and pilot initiatives to improve health care access in four local domestic violence shelters.
Violence Against Women Act
The Federal Violence Against Women Act Grant Program (VAWA) provides funding through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), United States Department of Justice, for a number of grant programs for victims of domestic and sexual violence. It includes the Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant (STOP Program), the Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant (CDS), the Sexual Assault Services Program Formula Grant (SASP), the Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence and Abuse of Women Later in Life Program, and other discretionary grants.
Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant
Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grants are awarded to states to develop and strengthen the response of the criminal justice system to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to support and enhance services for victims. In Virginia, federal STOP funding is referred to as Virginia-STOP, or “V-STOP” funding. In 2011, DCJS received $2,899,721 in federal STOP funding, representing an 11.7% increase from the 2010 allocation. Funds awarded to Virginia in 2011 will be used to support grant initiatives during calendar year 2012. In 2011, V-STOP funds supported 92 initiatives statewide in the effort to strengthen law enforcement, investigation strategies, prosecution strategies, and victims’ services.
Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant (CDS)
In October 2010, DCJS, in partnership with the Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Virginia State Police, Virginia Poverty Law Center, and Action Alliance applied for a competitive Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant (CDS), formerly known as the Grant to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders. The Virginia CDS Partnership was awarded two-year funding in the amount of $800,000. Funding of the CDS Partnership supports training and technical assistance on the state and local levels to allied professionals to enhance the coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence and stalking, to hold offenders accountable through enforcement of protective orders and effective prosecutions, and to enhance victim safety.
Sexual Assault Services Program Formula Grant (SASP)
DCJS receives VAWA funding from OVW for the Sexual Assault Services Program Formula Grant (SASP). The SASP is the first federal funding stream solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. The SASP provides funding to assist
21 states in supporting rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. In FY 2011, DCJS awarded a total of $221,858 to support 26 eligible non-profit, non-governmental, sexual assault crisis centers statewide.
Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women Later in Life Program
Recognizing that individuals who are 50 years of age or older who are victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, face unique barriers to receiving assistance, Congress created the Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence and Abuse of Women Later in Life Program (Training Grants Program). This grant program creates a unique opportunity for providing or enhancing training and services to address these problems for this specific audience. http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/ovwgrantprograms.htm#7
Projects funded through the Training Grants Program provide or enhance training and services to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. In FY 2008, OVW awarded funding to Virginia to support a three-year project in the Metro-Richmond area lead by the Virginia Center on Aging and Senior Connections, with a number of other partner agencies and organizations. In 2011, this project concluded after successfully providing training to hundreds of criminal justice professionals, providing cross training opportunities to other professionals working with victims, working to enhance services for older victims, and working to enhance the community coordinated response to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Other VAWA Grants
The Virginia Department of Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Program (IVPP), receives VAWA funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support Virginia’s Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) initiative. IVPP received $863,443 in RPE funding for FY 2010. In 2011, IVPP provided funding and technical assistance to 12 local sexual assault crisis centers to promote sexual violence prevention education in local communities.
Finally, OVW awards VAWA grants to each state’s domestic violence coalition and sexual assault coalition for the purposes of coordinating state victims’ services activities, as well as collaborating and coordinating with federal, state, and local entities. In Virginia, the state domestic and sexual violence coalition is the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance.
Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. MCH funds are provided to states to assist in developing infrastructure and activities to improve the health of mothers and children. The Virginia Department of Health receives MCH funds for a number of programs, including Project RADAR and Project Connect, programs designed to assist Virginia health care professionals in effectively identifying, assessing, and managing patients/clients experiencing sexual and domestic violence.
22 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Senate Bill 1223 passed in 2011, establishing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Funding Pool, which would pool any remaining TANF funds not being used for TANF cash assistance and distribute the funds through a competitive grant process. This legislation eliminated TANF as a line item funding source for domestic violence and many other programs in FY 2013.
TANF funds were used through the end of FY 2012 to provide services to income eligible victims of domestic violence who have dependent children. Program services to victims supported by TANF funds include a 24-hour confidential crisis hotline services, shelter services, crisis and supportive counseling, information and referral, transportation, legal advocacy services, and basic services for children. A total of $1,248,750 in TANF funds were appropriated for FY 2012 for domestic violence services. TANF funding was no longer available to be distributed for special grant projects. The state budget now includes General Funds and special, Non-General Funds to continue the services previously funded with the TANF funds. Forty-seven (47) local domestic violence programs received TANF funds in 2012 for the provision of these crisis services.
Virginia Family Violence Prevention Program
Virginia established the Virginia Family Violence Prevention Program (VFVPP) in 1983 to provide additional funding for the prevention of family violence and intervention in situations involving family violence, particularly situations involving child abuse and neglect. In addition to prevention and intervention services, activities funded with VFVPP funds include the statewide Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline, statewide training, and technical assistance.
DSS administers VFVPP funds. Grants awarded through the VFVPP support basic crisis services, as well as projects for the prevention of family violence on the local and state levels. DSS administered $1,500,000 in VFVPP grant funds for both FY 2012 and FY 2013, to 47 local programs and to the statewide coalition, the Action Alliance.
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund
In 2004, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation creating the Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund (VDVVF). In 2006, the Virginia General Assembly passed additional legislation changing the name of the fund from the Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund to the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund (VSDVVF). The purpose of the VSDVVF is to provide funding to assist in protecting and providing necessary services to adult victims of and children affected by sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, and family abuse.
Over the two year period, approximately 2.4 million dollars is deposited into the VSDVVF fund for the purposes of funding victims’ services programs and an additional 2.4 million dollars for the purposes of funding local attorneys of the Commonwealth’s Attorney offices. These funds are generated by a two dollar fee charged in misdemeanor court convictions.
During the 2011-2012 funding cycles, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund grants were awarded to 35 victims’ services programs for the purpose of providing services to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and family abuse. Funding was also provided to 28 local units of government to fund additional Commonwealth’s Attorneys, paralegals, or legal secretaries or to
23 enhance existing resources that provide services to adult victims and/or children who are affected by domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and family abuse.
During 2011, the VSDVVF victims’ services programs provided services to 2,504 victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and family abuse. Also, in 2011, the total number of charges reported involving adult and/or child victims supported by VSDVVF funding was 4,388.
Additionally, during the 2011 funding cycle, training was provided to 8,652 allied professionals on topics relating to domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and family abuse, criminal justice process, underserved populations, and community response. Services provided for civil legal assistance include protective orders, custody, divorce, child support, and immigration services. Civil legal assistance was provided to 1,399 victims of domestic violence, 70 victims of sexual assault, and 12 victims of stalking. Over 6,475 days of emergency shelter was provided to domestic violence and sexual violence victims/survivors and their families.
Virginia Crime Victim-Witness Fund
The Virginia Crime Victim-Witness Fund (VWF) was established in 1995 by Virginia Code § 19.2- 11.3 to support the Victim-Witness Grant Program, which provides funding for services to victims and witnesses of all crimes, including victims of domestic and sexual violence. The VWF is funded by a designated percentage of court fees and costs collected by local district and circuit courts from convicted offenders.
The VWF is administered by DCJS. In FY 2011, $2,935,187 in funds from the VWF provided support to 87 local Victim/Witness Programs and one state-level victim assistance program.
Federal and State Shelter Grants
In addition to the State Shelter Grant (SSG), Virginia receives federal funding for homeless shelter programs through the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. State and federal shelter grant funding is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
Although shelter grants focus primarily on shelter services for the homeless population, funds from these programs also provide support to domestic violence shelters. Approximately one-third of the homeless shelter provider network is self-categorized as domestic violence shelters. In addition, approximately 15% of the total number of individuals served by shelters receiving SSG and ESG funds in 2011-2012 were victims of domestic violence.
In addition, approximately 15% of the total number of individuals served by shelter receiving funding in 2011 and 2012 were victims of domestic violence. Of the shelters receiving SSG funds, 23% of individuals served were victims of domestic violence, while 32% of homeless households had 64 experienced domestic violence in the preceding year.
24 Kids First License Plates
The Family and Children’s Trust (FACT) Fund generates revenue from the sale of KIDS FIRST license plates. These funds support grants for family violence programs and public awareness initiatives. 65 In 2011, KIDS FIRST license plates generated a total of $210,585 in revenue.
Income Tax Refund Donation
Taxpayers may voluntarily donate all or part of their state income tax refund to FACT. Revenue from income tax check-off supports family violence prevention, treatment, and public awareness 66 projects. In 2011, the income-tax check-off program generated approximately $30,000 in revenue.
GRANT PROGRAMS
Domestic Violence Prevention and Services Program
The Domestic Violence Prevention and Services Program is a program of the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS). This Program promotes awareness, education, prevention, and service programs. DSS awards grants to public and private nonprofit, incorporated agencies and organizations that provide direct crisis services to victims of domestic violence.
In FY 2012, DSS awarded $7,264,305 in funding to local and statewide domestic violence programs, using a combination of federal grant funds from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), and state funds. The state funds are derived from the Virginia Family Violence Prevention Program (VFVPP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and general appropriations.
Source VOCA FVPSA TANF Special VFVPP Funds 2012 $2,620,944 $2,098,963 $1,248,750 $1,500,000 2013 $2,315,511 $2,109,726 $1,248,750 $1,500,000 Difference ($305,433) $1,0763 n/a n/a $0
Domestic Violence in Un-Served Communities
As part of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Services Program, in 2010, DSS established the Domestic Violence in Un-Served Communities grant to address the unmet needs of victims living in localities with no local domestic violence service providers. Through the grant program, a total of $400,000 was available for an 18-month period (from January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012) for new services in up to seven localities. Awards were made in December 2010 for services in the City of Danville, and the Counties of Pittsylvania, Halifax, Charlotte and Brunswick.
As of July 2012, the domestic violence programs serving these communities were all awarded new contracts for ongoing services through the Domestic Violence Prevention and Services Grant.
25 Sexual Assault Grant Program
DCJS administers the Sexual Assault Grant Program (SAGP), which distributes funds to local sexual assault crisis centers and statewide programs to provide or enhance direct services to victims of sexual assault. There are two funding sources for SAGP. First, an appropriation from the State General Fund was first awarded by the General Assembly in 1989. This annual appropriation partially funds local and statewide intervention efforts. Second, federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds have supported services to sexual assault victims since 1984. In FY 2012, DCJS provided a total of $3,375,529 to support 36 local sexual assault crisis centers (SACC) and one statewide program.
Grant-funded SACC provide a variety of core direct services to victims of sexual violence. These core services include: crisis intervention, follow-up peer counseling, assistance with crime victims’ compensation claims, information and referrals to services, personal advocacy (e.g. accompaniment to hospital emergency rooms), and criminal justice support and advocacy. The goal is to ensure that all of Virginia’s citizens have access to comprehensive sexual assault intervention services if needed.
Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant
The Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant (CDS) (formerly referred to in Virginia as the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders, or “GEAP” grant) program is a federal discretionary grant funded by VAWA funds administered by the OVW. The goal of the CDS grant is to encourage communities to adopt a coordinated community response in the treatment of domestic and sexual violence as serious violations of criminal law.
In October 2010, the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, awarded a two-year, competitive, federal Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women (CDS) grant to the Commonwealth of Virginia in the amount of $800,000. The grant supported the formation of the Virginia CDS Partnership, which is administered by DCJS in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. Funding of the CDS Partnership supports training and technical assistance on the state and local levels to allied professionals to enhance the coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence and stalking, to hold offenders accountable through enforcement of protective orders and effective prosecutions, and to enhance victim safety.
Virginia STOP Violence Against Women Grant (V-STOP)
In Virginia, federal STOP (Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grants) funding is referred to as “V-STOP” funding. The goal of V-STOP is to develop and strengthen the response of the criminal justice system to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to support and enhance services for victims. DCJS awarded $2,594,912 in V-STOP funding to 92 law enforcement agencies, Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ offices, courts, sexual assault crisis centers, and domestic violence programs statewide for efforts in CY 2011. The V-STOP allocation for CY 2012 funding is $2,899,721.
26 Sexual Violence Prevention Programming Grant
The Injury and Violence Prevention Program (IVPP) of the Virginia Department of Health contracts with local sexual assault centers to provide sexual violence prevention programming in localities. Services and activities funded include: intensive youth-peer education, multisession, curriculum-based education, community education, train-the-trainer programs, and public awareness campaigns or events. In 2012, IVPP administered funds to 11 sexual assault crisis centers across the Commonwealth.
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund
The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) administers grant funds from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund (VSDVVF) to support the prosecution of domestic violence cases, law enforcement efforts, and victim services (including sexual assault, stalking, and civil legal assistance programs). One-half of the funds are dedicated to supporting the prosecution of felonies and misdemeanors involving domestic violence, sexual abuse, stalking, and family abuse. The other half of the funds are dedicated to funding a variety of victims’ services programs. During the FY 2011-2012 funding cycles, DCJS awarded funds to 35 victims’ services programs and to 28 local units of government for the prosecution of domestic violence cases.
Victim/Witness Program Grants
Victim/Witness Program grants provide funds to local Victim/Witness Programs and statewide victim assistance programs that provide information, direct services, and assistance to victims and witnesses of crime as required by Virginia’s Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act. In FY 2012, DCJS awarded a total of $9,407,834 to a total of 108 state and local programs using a combination of funds from VOCA ($3,411,307), the Virginia Crime Victim/Witness Fund ($3,361,527), and general funds ($2,635,00).
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Agency Efforts and Initiatives
Agencies and organizations across the Commonwealth work tirelessly on a daily basis to provide services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, increase public awareness about the issues, provide training to allied professionals, enhance the community and systemic response, and hold offenders accountable. The following is a summary of the efforts and initiatives undertaken by these agencies and organizations in 2012.
67 Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council
The Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council (CASC) is the state agency mandated to provide resources and training services to Virginia’s prosecutors.
Since 2010, CASC has employed a V-STOP funded half-time Violence Against Women Resource Prosecutor (VAWRP). The VAWRP provides training, technical support and resources to Virginia’s domestic and sexual violence prosecutors and investigators statewide.
In CY 2012, the VAWRP served on several statewide boards and commissions, to include the V- STOP Statewide Planning Team and the Governor’s Domestic Violence Response and Prevention Advisory Board. She was instrumental in the development and success of legislation making strangulation a separate criminal offense in Virginia punishable by up to five years in prison. Additionally, the VAWRP participated in community forums addressing issues of domestic and sexual violence sponsored by the William & Mary Women’s Law Society and the William & Mary Criminal Law Society. The VAWRP position has been refunded through CY2013.
In CY2012, the VAWRP organized and implemented 30 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit for Virginia’s prosecutors on issues related to domestic violence and sexual assault. Two hours of training were provided on ethical issues that arise in the investigation and prosecution of these cases. She also provided 26 hours of in-service credit to 15 sexual assault investigators from across Virginia, including Virginia college campuses.
These training hours were offered through both large statewide trainings and smaller topic- specific trainings. Since 2008 CASC has offered a V-STOP funded intensive five-day training program to sexual violence prosecutors and investigators.68 The program, entitled “Trauma to Trial: Investigating and Prosecuting Adult Non-Stranger Sexual Assault,” annually is offered at no cost to 15 prosecutor/investigator teams from across the state. The “Trauma to Trial” training was developed in response to the startling statistics surrounding adult non-stranger sexual assault. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), more than two-thirds of rape victims know their assailants, yet only 9% of all rapists will ever spend a day in jail. “Trauma to Trial” confronts these statistics and focuses on overcoming the myriad challenges associated with investigating and prosecuting these difficult cases. The faculty is comprised of allied professionals from across Virginia and beyond and includes not only prosecutors and investigators, but also victim advocates, forensic nurse examiners/sexual assault nurse examiners (FNE/SANE), social workers/clinicians, and victim-witness personnel. Importantly, no student is excluded from “Trauma to Trial” because their office or department does not have funding for training. The “Trauma to Trial” budget includes funding for students’ lodging, meals, and training expenses.
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In addition to “Trauma to Trial,” CASC also offers domestic violence and sexual assault prosecution training at its larger, statewide training programs. At CASC’s Spring Institute, held in April 2012 and attended by 678 prosecutors, CASC offered classes on human trafficking, handling cases involving defendants suffering from combat related trauma, long-term family abuse, and the use of therapy dogs to help traumatized victims cope with the criminal justice system. At the VACA Annual Summer Conference in August 2012, CASC provided instruction on strategies for preventing witness intimidation. At the 2012 Executive Program, CASC will offer training on compliance with the Victim’s Bill of Rights and the Urban Institute’s study of wrongful convictions in sexual assault cases.
CASC funding has experienced deep cuts, as have all Virginia agencies and local Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Offices. Without continued grant funding, these high quality, low or no- cost training programs simply could not be held. Through these trainings, Virginia’s prosecutors and investigators have access to comprehensive training to help them successfully prosecute domestic violence and sexual assault cases.
Office of the Attorney General
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) promotes public awareness of domestic and sexual violence issues in the Commonwealth through the implementation of a number of domestic violence initiatives, training, collaboration, and grant programs. The OAG actively promotes sound public policy and legislative efforts to enhance victim safety and to hold offenders accountable. The OAG also collaborates with state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to address the issues of domestic and sexual violence in communities across the Commonwealth. The OAG employs the Statewide Facilitator for Victims of Domestic Violence, a position created by Virginia Code § 2.2-515.1, to assist agencies with the implementation of domestic violence programs.
Domestic Violence Grant Initiatives – V-STOP and Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant
Through two grants from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), the STOP Violence Against Women Grant (V-STOP) and the Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant (CDS), the OAG provides resources, training, and technical assistance to local and state allied professionals, as well as to victims on domestic and sexual violence issues.
Through funding from the V-STOP grant, the OAG produces and distributes resource materials and provides training to law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and victim services providers. The materials and trainings include information on domestic and sexual violence laws, accessing domestic violence resources, and working with victims from underserved communities, including victims from the elderly, disabled, non-English speaking, tribal, and immigrant populations.
In CY 2012, the OAG received $47,720 in V-STOP funding from the Department of Criminal Justice Services to support public awareness activities across the Commonwealth and in underserved communities. Through the “Safe at Home” Program, the OAG directed victims to state and local resources, provided training to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and advocates on working with victims from underserved communities, and distributed thousands of public awareness materials statewide.
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The OAG also provides outreach to the Native American population in Virginia. During 2012, the OAG attended the Chickahominy and Mattoponi tribal powwows to provide attendees with public awareness materials.
In November 2012, as a joint collaboration of the V-STOP grant and the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, the OAG hosted “A Victim Centered Approach to Investigating and Prosecuting Sexual Violence Cases: Training for Law Enforcement Officers, Prosecutors, and Advocates” in Lexington, Virginia. More than 50 prosecutors, law enforcement officers, advocates, victim/witness program staff, and allied professionals participated in the training. The training addressed issues related to the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence cases, SANE exams, victim intimidation, human trafficking, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), use of technology in sexual violence cases, elder sexual abuse, and substances in sexual violence.
In 2012, the OAG participated in the Virginia CDS Partnership, a collaborative effort of five state agencies and two nonprofit organizations. The Virginia CDS Partnership provides training and technical assistance on domestic and sexual violence issues to professionals and communities across the Commonwealth. Through the CDS Grant, the OAG provides training and technical assistance to prosecutors and law enforcement officers statewide. Specifically, the OAG offered two trainings in the fall of 2012 entitled "Got Evidence? How to Effectively Use Evidenced Based Prosecution in Domestic Violence Cases" to more effectively investigate and prosecute domestic violence cases where the victim is unwilling or unable to participate.
In June 2012, the OAG, along with the CDS partner agencies hosted the second training institute, the “Advanced Coordinated Community Response and Leadership Institute,” that trained teams of professionals from ten localities, including representatives of law enforcement, courts, prosecutors, and advocates, on how to work together to address the issues of domestic and sexual violence. These teams, as part of their local Coordinated Community Response Team, built upon their efforts in the first Institute to further develop skills necessary to collaboratively address domestic and sexual violence cases in their communities. The Partnership also provided technical assistance to the teams between the first and second Institute.
Public Awareness
In 2012, the OAG continued its efforts to bring awareness to the issues of domestic and sexual violence. In October 2012, the OAG held a community awareness event in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The event showcased the ten local teams that participated in the "Advanced Coordinated Community Response and Leadership Institute" in December 2011 and June 2012. This event provided community awareness on how local law enforcement, domestic violence programs, the court system and prosecutors are working together to promote safer communities and strive to put an end to domestic violence.
Also, in conjunction with the Domestic Violence Awareness Month event, the OAG held a drive for throw blankets, bed pillows, and pillow cases. The donated items were presented to the Eastern Shore Coalition Against Domestic Violence Shelter. The blankets and pillows are to be given to women and their children entering the shelter. The blankets and pillows represent a comfort item for each person and are theirs to keep during their shelter stay and can be taken with them when they move out of the shelter.
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Address Confidentiality Program
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-515.2, the OAG also administers the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), a voluntary, confidential mail-forwarding service for victims of domestic violence who have recently moved to a location unknown to their abusers. The Program permits a participant to use a “substitute” mailing address in lieu of his or her home address in an effort to keep the victim’s physical location confidential. The substitute address is a post office box, maintained by the OAG in Richmond, with no relation to the participant’s actual address. The OAG serves as each program participant’s legal agent for receipt of mail and for service of process. The OAG receives participant mail and is responsible for forwarding the mail to the participant. When a program participant applies for government services, state and local government agencies must accept the ACP substitute address as though it is the participant’s actual residential address. As of July 1, 2011, the ACP was expanded and made available to victims across the Commonwealth. Since November 2010 and the statewide expansion of the program in July 2011, the number of adult and child participants in the program has increased 164%.
While the ACP cannot provide absolute protection for victims, it can be an effective element of an overall safety plan. Victims are encouraged to seek counseling through a local domestic violence program, a sexual assault crisis center, or through shelter services for safety planning information.
There are currently a number of active participants in the ACP, including both adults and children. Additional information on the ACP can be found at: http://www.ag.virginia.gov.
Safe in Our Communities: The Attorney General’s Community Recognition Program for Promising Practices in Domestic Violence Response
On October 3, 2008, the OAG launched “Safe in Our Communities: The Attorney General’s Community Recognition Program for Promising Practices in Domestic Violence Response.” The Program recognizes localities for their promising and innovative practices to combat domestic violence, and encourages other communities to implement those practices. The Program was developed in partnership with Community Recognition Program several state agencies and organizations, including the Recognized Programs Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department of Fairfax County (2009) Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Office of Loudon County (2009) the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the City of Richmond (2009) Virginia Poverty Law Center, the Virginia State Police, and Chesterfield County (2009) the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance King George County (2009) (Action Alliance). The Program receives monetary support Washington County (2010) through a public-private partnership of the OAG, the Action City of Norfolk (2012) Alliance, and the Verizon Wireless HopeLine Program. A fourth round of the program was launched in August 2012 and a ceremony recognizing the one locality will be held on December 17, 2012. The fifth round of the program will be launched in the Spring of 2013.
31 Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, second only to drug trafficking, and is a form of modern-day slavery where traffickers profit from the control and exploitation of others. Trafficking includes recruiting or taking victims by threat, force, coercion, or deception for the purpose of exploiting them for labor or sexual activities.
In 2011 and 2012, the OAG embarked on several initiatives designed to combat human trafficking in Virginia. During the 2012 legislative session, the OAG supported a bill aimed at increasing the penalties for those who solicit prostitution from a minor, making it a felony offense.
Additionally, the OAG plays an integral role in the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force (NVHTTF). The OAG works closely with the NVHTTF investigative and litigation teams to uncover and disrupt trafficking operations in Northern Virginia. As a member of the NVHTTF Training Committee, the OAG assists in the development and delivery of patrol officer and code enforcement officer trainings in how to spot trafficking situations during routine enforcement actions.
69 Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia
The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia (OES) is the administrative office for Virginia's Judicial System. The OES provides coordination, supervision and administrative support for operations and systems within the court and magistrate systems. The OES also provides ongoing training and technical assistance to judges, magistrates, and court personnel across the Commonwealth on a range of issues that impact the courts, including training on domestic and sexual violence issues.
The OES received funding from three grant programs of the Office on Violence Against Women in 2011 and 2012: the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) grant program (or V-STOP in Virginia), the Community Defined Solutions grant program, and the Court Training and Improvement grant program. Total funding to support specific domestic violence projects was $111,579 for 2011 and $114,349 for 2012.
I-CAN! Virginia
I-CAN! Virginia is a free online program that enables a person to complete and print out the forms necessary to petition for a protective order in Virginia’s district courts. I-CAN! Virginia can be used anywhere a person has access to the Internet and is available in both English and Spanish. I-CAN! Virginia can be accessed through Virginia’s Judicial System website at www.courts.state.va.us.
Online assistance with protective orders through I-CAN! Virginia has been available since 2005 for family abuse protective orders in Virginia’s juvenile and domestic relations district courts. In late 2011, the OES added a new I-CAN! Virginia module for Virginia’s general district courts, expanding the I- CAN! Virginia system to include two types of protective orders, family abuse and non-family abuse. I- CAN! Virginia also underwent major design changes incorporating a more streamlined, user-friendly experience. Both the new design of I-CAN! Virginia and the addition of the general district court module, were officially launched in early 2012. To coincide with the new design and module, I-CAN! Virginia brochures, cards, and posters were updated and distributed in 2012. From January 1, 2012 thru
32 September 30, 2012, 507 users accessed I-CAN! Virginia and printed the forms necessary to petition for a protective order.
To complement the increased access to petitions for protective orders through I-CAN! Virginia, 18 Virginia juvenile and domestic relations district courts have developed and posted on Virginia’s Judicial System Web site court-specific filing information for petitioners seeking a protective order in those particular courts. Court-specific filing information provides petitioners with information and resources on the court process and community resources available to victims of domestic violence. Three additional courts, Washington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, Bristol Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, and the City of Richmond General District Court completed and posted their filing information on Virginia’s Judicial System Web site.
Judicial Branch Training and Education on Domestic Violence
The OES provided training and education on domestic violence issues to judges, magistrates and clerks of court in 2012 thru pre-bench training for new circuit and district court judges, training at the annual conference for district court judges, webinars and in-person training for district court clerks, and continued access to an online course for magistrates.
Pre-bench training on domestic violence was provided to 44 new judges (16 circuit court, 15 general district court, and 13 juvenile and domestic relations district court) in 2012. A session on “The Challenge of Adult Sexual Assault Cases” was provided to circuit court judges and two separate sessions on domestic violence, including one on protective orders, was provided to district court judges. Also in 2012, at the mandatory conference for district court judges, the judges received domestic violence training on batterer intervention programs and protective orders. Four domestic violence sessions were offered at the mandatory conference, including two voluntary discussion group sessions. Discussion group topics included batterer intervention and §19.2-152.10 protective orders involving juveniles.
In 2011, 370 district court clerks received training on protective orders through nine WebEx training sessions. Eight in-person training sessions on protective orders are scheduled for district court clerks in the fall of 2012. The online domestic violence course, “Virginia Magistrates Family Abuse Case Management Course” continues to be made available to all magistrates through Virginia’s Judicial System's Knowledge Center. Magistrates who complete this online course earn six (6) Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits.
The OES updated the “Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Family Violence Reference Manual” in 2012, including the chapter on the “Dynamics of Domestic Violence.” A hard copy of the manual was provided to all new district and circuit court judges. An electronic version of this manual is available to all judges in the Commonwealth via the Virginia Courts intranet site. The OES also developed and distributed the document, “Suggested Practices and Procedures to Facilitate Privacy in Title 19.2 Protective Order Cases in General District Court” to all general district courts in the Commonwealth.
Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant Program
The OES is a member of the Virginia Community Defined Solutions (CDS) Partnership, a collaborative effort of six state government entities and one nonprofit organization to provide statewide training and technical assistance on improving a coordinated community response to domestic violence.
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The OES received funding for and participated in the CDS Partnership’s development of the two-part training for ten multi-disciplinary teams around Virginia, entitled “Advanced Coordinated Community Response Leadership Institute.” These training institutes took place in December of 2011 and June of 2012. Each team had at least one court representative. Workshops were offered on a variety of topics including, a coordinated community response to domestic violence, strategic planning, team-building, new laws, protective orders, best practices, stalking and technology, underserved populations, fatality review, and funding for domestic violence programs.
Court Improvement and Training Grant Program
The OES received funding in 2011 and 2012 through the Court Improvement and Training Program of the Office on Violence Against Women to establish a domestic violence compliance docket and a protective order docket at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in Pulaski, Virginia. This grant provides funding for a part-time domestic violence docket coordinator in Pulaski, in addition to training and technical assistance from national providers.
In 2011, the Pulaski Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court accomplished its goal of establishing two domestic violence dockets to improve the handling of domestic violence cases and increase victim safety and offender accountability. The domestic violence criminal compliance docket began on April 20, 2011, and the protective order docket began on July 1, 2011. Training and technical assistance was provided by the Center for Court Innovation and the National Center for State Courts in 2011 and 2012.
Continuing its efforts in 2012, the Pulaski Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court organized and co-sponsored a multi-disciplinary training event for the community, which included a training entitled, “Understanding and Responding to Children Exposed to Domestic Violence” on September 14, 2012 in Dublin, Virginia. An additional domestic violence training for professionals and stakeholders in the community is being planned for Spring 2013.
70 The Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia
The Family and Children’s Trust Fund (FACT) was created by the General Assembly in 1986 as a public-private partnership for the prevention and treatment of family violence, including child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and elder abuse and neglect.
FACT is administered by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor. The Board of Trustees is vested with the statutory authority to: 1) Encourage, approve, and accept gifts, contributions, bequests, or grants from any public or private source to carry out the purposes of FACT; 2) Administer and disburse any funds available to FACT; 3) Engage in fundraising activities to expand and perpetuate FACT; 4) Monitor the use of funds to ensure the accountability of the recipient of funds; 5) Advise the Department of Social Services, the Board of Social Services, and the Governor on matters concerning programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect and family violence, the treatment of abused and neglected children and their families, and such other issues related to child abuse and neglect and family violence as identified by the Commissioner; 6) Communicate to the Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Corrections, Criminal Justice Services, Education, Health, and Juvenile Justice, other state agencies as appropriate, and the Attorney General activities of the Board of Trustees related to efforts to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect and violence within families; and
34 7) Encourage public awareness activities concerning child abuse and neglect and violence within families.
FACT is primarily funded by direct donations from public and private sources, revenue from the sale of the KIDS FIRST license plates, and voluntary donations on state income tax returns. In 2011, FACT received $210,585 in funding from the KIDS FIRST license plate campaign and approximately $30,000 from state income tax returns.
In 2011, FACT funding supported 23 local projects and programs, including but not limited to programs that offer parenting education classes, shelter services, outreach and counseling services, services for child exposed to domestic violence, services for underserved populations, and hotlines services. In 2012, FACT’s Board of Trustees decided to suspend awarding grants to local programs during the 2012-2013 grant period due to a series changes that impacted FACT’s internal structure; however, this process will resume for the 2013-2014 grant period.
As of July 1, 2012, FACT acquired some additional duties and responsibilities as a result of the dissolution of the Governor’s Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. The Governor’s Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, which was established in 1975, was responsible for advising the Department of Social Services, the Board of Social Services, and the Governor on matters concerning programs for the prevention and treatment of abused and neglected children and their families. FACT is now responsible for the Governor’s Advisory Board’s previous duties, which is reflected in its statutory authority above.
Other 2012 highlights include the launch of a new and revised FACT website (www.fact.state.va.us and www.vakidsfirst.org), participation on the Governor’s Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Advisory Board’s Improving Services to Children and Youth Subcommittee, the receipt of a $20,000 grant award from The Allstate Foundation to conduct financial empowerment training the victims of domestic violence, and a joint training effort with the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, and FACT titled, “Changing Our View of Sexual Violence: A Community Response to Prevention.” The Allstate Foundation grant, which was awarded in August of 2012, will be utilized in the coming months in order to provide the Moving Ahead Through Financial Management Curriculum to survivors of domestic violence around the state. The joint training effort on reframing sexual violence, which took place in May 2012, provided approximately 300 family violence service providers with information on primary sexual violence prevention, an examination of best practices that address forms of sexual violence, and a discussion on ways communities can collaborate in order to prevent sexual violence.
In addition, FACT is currently in the process of finalizing its 2012 Violence at Home: The FACT Report. Since 2010, FACT has provided this annual report to serve as a tool and data resource to communities and local programs and organizations across the Commonwealth. The 2012 edition provides a comprehensive listing of local, regional, and statewide family violence data across the lifespan, including data on children, families, and older adults. The report is unique because it presents Virginia-specific information across various domains of family violence and across the entire lifespan. In addition, FACT is also in the process of finalizing its 2012 Issue Brief which focuses specifically on child sexual abuse. Both the 2012 FACT Report and Issue Brief will be finalized by December 2012.
35 71 Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Center on Aging
The Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA), housed in the School of Allied Health Professions at Virginia Commonwealth University, was created by legislation enacted by the Virginia General Assembly in 1978. The Center is "an interdisciplinary study, research, information and resource facility for the Commonwealth of Virginia.” VCoA is the only such center in Virginia.
VCoA has several training initiatives that address domestic and sexual violence in later life and elder abuse. VCoA receives V-STOP (Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) funding from the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to address intimate partner violence and sexual assault in later life. VCoA receives funding from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund (VSDVVF) to support statewide efforts against family violence, including training and technical assistance. In 2012, VCoA was part of a collaborative effort among nine statewide agencies and nine Bristol and Washington County agencies that was awarded funding by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), United States Department of Justice, through its 2012 Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women Later in Life Program. This three-year initiative, Virginia Elder Justice Training and Services, is administered by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
In 2012, the Virginia Center on Aging once again provided representation to the Governor’s Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Advisory Board, as continued by Executive Order #44.
Domestic Violence in Later Life Grant Projects
VCoA is a founding member of the Central Virginia Task Force on Domestic Violence in Later Life, a regional collaboration of criminal justice professionals, domestic and sexual violence programs, adult protective services and other allied professionals working together to raise awareness and improve the community response to women aged 50 and older who are the victims of domestic and sexual violence.
VCoA administered two grant projects on behalf of the Task Force in 2012: the Central Virginia Task Force on Domestic Violence in Later Life Project and the Family Violence Project.
In 2012, VCoA was awarded V-STOP grant funding for the Central Virginia Task Force on Domestic Violence in Later Life Project. The goal of the project is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated, and cross-trained community response to domestic violence and sexual assault in later life by increasing awareness, education, and specialized resources for law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, aging service providers, domestic violence advocates, and allied service professionals. Project efforts are focused in Richmond and the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico. During the first eleven months of 2012, the project coordinator provided training to 220 professionals, multiple consultations to local agencies, and expertise on domestic violence in later life at meetings of local coalitions and task forces. As in 2011, greater emphasis has been placed this year on multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings within each locality. The project coordinator has facilitated eighteen such meetings in the first eleven months of 2012.
In 2012, VCoA was awarded continuation funding from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund (VSDVVF) for the Family Violence Project. The goal of the statewide project is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated, and cross-trained community response to family violence that impacts women aged 50 and older. During the first eleven months of 2012, the project coordinator
36 provided training to 209 individuals throughout the Commonwealth, consultations to a variety of agencies, and made presentations at meetings of statewide, regional and local organizations.
Virginia Elder Justice Training and Services
In October 2012, a coalition of City of Bristol, Washington County and statewide agencies was awarded funding for a three-year project through the Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence and Abuse of Women Later in Life Program, Office on Violence Against Women, US Department of Justice. The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services serves as lead agency for the project, providing administrative and fiscal oversight. The Virginia Center on Aging will manage the project and provide technical assistance to the local and statewide partners.. Project partners include Abuse Alternatives, Inc., City of Bristol Department of Social Services, City of Bristol Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Bristol Police Department, Crisis Center, Inc., District Three Governmental Cooperative, Washington County Department of Social Services, Washington County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council, Virginia Department of Social Services, Virginia Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime, Inc., Virginia Office of the Attorney General, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, and the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association.
72 Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is charged with planning and implementing programs to improve the functioning and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. DCJS accomplishes its mission through providing funding, training, and technical assistance to agencies, programs, individuals, and localities. Through a focus on victim services, DCJS develops, coordinates, and funds victim-witness programs, sexual assault crisis centers, and programs that combat violence against women. DCJS offers services, training, and resources to victim service providers, law enforcement officers, allied professionals, prosecutors, and other local government officials. DCJS also provides technical assistance to localities in establishing, maintaining, and expanding victim assistance programs, monitors, assesses, and disseminates information on victim-related legislation, and monitors and evaluates grant programs.
DCJS administers millions in grant funding to support local victim assistance programs, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, state and local domestic and sexual violence agencies, and state and local victim-witness programs. As a result, thousands of victims receive services from local programs, thousands of law enforcement officers and allied professionals receive domestic and sexual violence-related training, and dozens of localities benefit from funding and technical assistance.
Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Grant
In October 2010, the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, awarded a two-year, competitive, federal Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women (CDS) grant to the Commonwealth of Virginia in the amount of $800,000. The grant supported the formation of the Virginia CDS Partnership, which is administered by DCJS in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance.
37 Funding of the CDS Partnership supports training and technical assistance on the state and local levels to allied professionals to enhance the coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence and stalking, to hold offenders accountable through enforcement of protective orders and effective prosecutions, and to enhance victim safety. As the applicant agency for CDS grant funding, DCJS coordinates the activities of the six state- level multidisciplinary partners; convenes monthly meetings of these partners; develops, delivers, and coordinates training for law enforcement officers and allied professionals on responding to domestic violence, including predominant aggressor determination, and non-stranger adult sexual assault; develops resource materials for law enforcement officers on full faith and credit; and prepares required reports due to the federal funding agency, the Office on Violence Against Women. DCJS also led the partnership in the development and delivery of the Advanced Coordinated Community Response and Leadership Institute, a two-part intensive training institute completed in June 2012.
The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund
In 2004, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation creating the Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund (VDVVF). In 2006, the Virginia General Assembly passed additional legislation changing the name of the fund from the Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund to the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund (VSDVVF). The purpose of the VSDVVF is to provide funding to assist in protecting and providing necessary services to adult victims of and children affected by sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, and family abuse.
Over the two year period, approximately 2.4 million dollars is deposited into the VSDVVF fund for the purposes of funding victims’ services programs and an additional 2.4 million dollars for the purposes of funding local attorneys of the Commonwealth’s Attorney offices. These funds are generated by a two dollar fee charged in misdemeanor court convictions.
During the 2011-2012 funding cycles, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund grants were awarded to 35victims’ services programs for the purpose of providing services to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and family abuse. Funding was also provided to 28 local units of government to fund additional Commonwealth’s Attorneys, paralegals, or legal secretaries or to enhance existing resources that provide services to adult victims and/or children who are affected by domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and family abuse.
During 2011, the VSDVVF victims’ services programs provided services to 2,504 victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and family abuse. Also, in 2011, the total number of charges reported involving adult and/or child victims supported by VSDVVF funding was 4,388.
VSDVVF supported programs such as the Tahirih Justice Center (TJC) for a child/youth focused project to provide pro-bono, culturally competent, holistic immigration law services to girls 17 years of age and under who are the victims of family violence and/or sexual violence. TJC services included social services case management and social services referrals to address trauma. Funds were used to support two part-time immigration attorneys and a staff social worker. According to the staff of TJC, these services are often intricate, time-intensive cases often involving life-threatening situation and new areas of the law. During 2011, TJC provided services to 69 victims of domestic and/or sexual violence.
38 VSDVVF funds also supported an Adult Treatment Specialist (ATS) for the Center for Sexual Assault Survivors in Newport News. The ATS provided individual counseling, support groups, crisis intervention, hospital and legal accompaniment for 101 adult victims of sexual assault. Staff for the Center for Sexual Assault Survivors stated, “VSDVVF funds allowed us to expand the adult counselor position from part-time to full-time. Without this funding we could not provide the groups.”
Additionally, during the 2011 funding cycle, training was provided to 8,652 allied professionals on topics relating to domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and family abuse, criminal justice process, underserved populations, and community response. Services provided for civil legal assistance include protective orders, custody, divorce, child support, and immigration services. Civil legal assistance was provided to 1,399 victims of domestic violence, 70 victims of sexual assault, and 12 victims of stalking. Over 6,475 days of emergency shelter were provided to domestic violence and sexual violence victims/survivors and their families.
Virginia – STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (V-STOP)
The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) was designated in 1995 by Governor George Allen as the agency in Virginia to implement the STOP formula grant program of the Violence Against Women Act or VAWA. The STOP Program was initially authorized under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and reauthorized and amended by the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 and, most recently, by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Act of 2005. The STOP Violence Against Women grant program promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to improving the criminal justice system's response to violent crimes against women. The STOP Program also encourages the development and strengthening of effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to address violent crimes against women and the development and strengthening of victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.
Virginia’s STOP grant program is referred to as V-STOP. In 2011, there were a total of ninety- two initiatives funded in Virginia, including 21 in the law enforcement category, 18 in the prosecution category, 5 in the courts category, 36 in the victim services category, and 12 in the discretionary category.
In addition to the 92 initiatives funded by the annual STOP allocation in 2011, fifty-one programs (11 in the law enforcement category, 12 in the prosecution category, 4 in the courts category, 20 in the victim services category, and 4 in the discretionary category) were supported on a temporary basis by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds that were distributed to the states by the Department of Justice. A total of 42.93 positions were created, preserved, or expand jobs. Most of these projects were completed by December 31, 2011.
In 2010, there were a total of 633 training events that were funded with V-STOP funding, training a total of 14,224 allied professionals and volunteers in Virginia. The most common topics of training events included: Domestic Violence Overview, Mandatory Reporting Requirements, Dynamics and Services; Advocate Response; Safety Planning for Victims/Survivors; Law Enforcement Response; and Confidentiality. Also in 2010, victim services subgrantees provided services to 14,522 victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and 2,360 services to secondary victims.
39 Additionally, V-STOP funded law enforcement officers investigated a total of 3,648 cases related to domestic, sexual, and/or dating violence and stalking. V-STOP law enforcement officers also provided 2,527 referrals to victim/witness programs and 3,727 to advocacy programs. In 2010, V-STOP funded 73 prosecutors handled 3,727 cases of sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking related.
Finally, V-STOP programs reported funds have enabled them to conduct trainings, hire domestic violence investigators and prosecutors, as well as support advocates for the sole purpose of providing and enhancing services to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking.
Victim/Witness Program Grants
Victim/Witness Program grants provide funds to local Victim/Witness Programs and statewide victim assistance programs that provide information, direct services, and assistance to victims and witnesses of crime as required by Virginia’s Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act. In FY 2012, DCJS awarded a total of $9,407,834 to a total of 108 state and local programs using a combination of funds from VOCA ($3,411,307), the Virginia Crime Victim/Witness Fund ($3,361,527), and general funds ($2,635,00).
Sexual Assault Grant Program
DCJS administers the Sexual Assault Grant Program (SAGP), which distributes funds to local sexual assault crisis centers and statewide programs to provide or enhance direct services to victims of sexual assault. There are two funding sources for SAGP. First, an appropriation from the State General Fund was first awarded by the General Assembly in 1989. This annual appropriation partially funds local and statewide intervention efforts. Second, federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds have supported services to sexual assault victims since 1984. In FY 2012, DCJS provided a total of $3,375,529 to support 36 local sexual assault crisis centers (SACC) and one statewide program.
Grant-funded SACCs provide a variety of core direct services to victims of sexual violence. These core services include: crisis intervention, follow-up peer counseling, assistance with crime victims’ compensation claims, information and referrals to services, personal advocacy (e.g. accompaniment to hospital emergency rooms), and criminal justice support and advocacy. The goal is to ensure that all of Virginia’s citizens have access to comprehensive sexual assault intervention services if needed.
Sexual Assault Services Program Formula Grant
DCJS receives VAWA funding from OVW for the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) Formula Grant. The SASP is the first federal funding stream solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. The SASP provides funding to assist states in supporting rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. In FY 2012, DCJS awarded a total of $264,113 to support 27 eligible non-profit, non-governmental, sexual assault crisis centers statewide.
40 Model Policies for Virginia Law Enforcement Agencies
In 2012, DCJS completed comprehensive revisions to two law enforcement model policies: one on the law enforcement response to domestic violence, and one on the law enforcement response to sexual assault. Pursuant to Code of Virginia § 9.1-1300 and § 9.1-1301, all Virginia law enforcement agencies are required to have written policies on handling cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault. The model policies developed by DCJS can be adapted by local law enforcement agencies to meet the Code requirements. The policies are available for download from the DCJS website at: www.dcjs.virginia.gov/cple/.
Support to Sexual Assault Response Teams
In 2004, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation stating that “the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall promote the use of local and regional sexual assault response team policy and protocol… as an integral part of an effective coordinated community response to sexual assault” (2004 Acts of Assembly, Ch. 980). Further, the Code of Virginia directs that DCJS shall establish “training standards and publish a model policy and protocols for local and regional sexual assault response teams” (§ 9.1-102).
Legislation passed in 2008 and 2009 also contributed to the need for statewide guidelines on a coordinated response to sexual violence. In 2008, in response to federal mandates attached to grant funding from the Violence Against Women Act, the Virginia General Assembly passed a bill that made significant changes to laws describing the provision of, and payment for, forensic examinations in sexual assault cases. In 2009, legislation codified the creation of sexual assault response teams (SART) in Virginia. Since July 1, 2009, Commonwealth’s Attorneys have the responsibility to coordinate a multi- disciplinary response to sexual violence in their community which is consistent with the guidelines established by DCJS.
In accordance with these legislative mandates, DCJS continues to promote the publication, Sexual Assault Response Teams: A Model Protocol for Virginia, which focuses on comprehensive, coordinated intervention and care for adult victims of sexual assault. This protocol is available for download from the DCJS website at: www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/. Localities are encouraged to review the model protocol as they continue to address sexual assault in their communities and as they seek to meet related statutory requirements. Additionally, DCJS hired a full-time staff person to focus solely on sexual assault-related projects, especially the development and promotion of SART throughout Virginia.
Virginia Department of Health, Division of Prevention and Health 74 Promotion, Injury and Violence Prevention Program
The Injury and Violence Prevention Program (IVPP) in the Division of Prevention and Health Promotion at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) provides funding and technical assistance to local organizations and communities for local prevention education efforts. The IVPP also provides training and resources on sexual and domestic violence to health care providers to encourage universal screening, assessment, and response to intimate partner violence. The IVPP also collects and analyzes data on the prevalence of sexual violence in the Commonwealth.
41 Project RADAR and Project Connect
Project RADAR, a health care provider-focused effort in Project RADAR: VDH’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program assists Virginia health care professionals in effectively identifying, assessing, and managing Routinely inquire about patients experiencing intimate partner violence. Project RADAR current and past violence Ask direct questions provides information on best practice policies, guidelines, and Document findings assessment tools, training programs and specialty-specific curricula, Assess safety awareness and educational materials, and information on the latest Review options and referrals research related to intimate partner/domestic violence.
In 2012, four workshops and a train-the-trainer session were held, resulting in 30 new trainers and nearly 200 health care professionals trained in the RADAR method for intimate partner violence screening. Educational materials were disseminated statewide to all community health centers, free clinics, and campus health centers and, between these mailings, resource order forms and live trainings, over 20,000 printed materials were distributed to providers and patients across the Commonwealth.
Project Connect is part of a groundbreaking multi-state initiative of Futures Without Violence (formerly the Family Violence Prevention Fund), which seeks to develop comprehensive models of public health prevention and intervention that can lead to improved health and safety for victims of sexual and domestic violence. In Virginia, the project's focus lies in family planning and home visiting settings. The Division of Prevention and Health Promotion, in partnership with the Division of Child and Family Health, the Virginia Home Visiting Consortium, and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, has developed assessment strategies and tools, training curricula, educational materials and policy/procedure guidance to better enable family planning clinic staff and home visitors to identify and provide support and referral to individuals and families impacted by sexual and domestic violence.
In 2012, two Project Connect train-the-trainer sessions were held, certifying 25 family planning providers and 13 home visitors to facilitate Project Connect workshops locally. An additional 14 workshops were held with a total of 211 participants. Family planning clinic staff and home visiting program staff attending these training sessions reach 83,299 unduplicated patients and 1,117 clients, respectively, annually. Further, over 12,000 Project Connect safety cards, posters and other clinical screening/assessment tools were disseminated via training sessions and resource request forms to providers and their patients/clients over the course of the year.
Through Project Connect, two pilot sites for on-site health services in domestic violence programs were funded in Charlottesville/Albemarle and the Northern Neck. In 2012, these programs implemented on-site clinics for health services, established routine cross-referral procedures with family planning clinics and home visiting programs and participated in evaluation projects to assess the success of these partnerships, screening tools and the Project Connect safety card intervention.
For more information about Project RADAR or Project Connect, go to www.projectradarva.com or www.projectconnectva.com.
Rape and Sexual Violence Prevention Program
Virginia’s Rape and Sexual Violence Prevention Program provides funding, education, and technical assistance to a broad base of community programs to increase the capacity to prevent rape
42 and sexual violence via prevention education in local communities. Through this initiative, the program collects and analyzes data on the prevalence of sexual violence, provides training, and develops and promotes resources. In 2012, the initiative provided support to 11 sexual assault crisis centers across Virginia.
The Rape and Sexual Violence Prevention Program includes a number of important initiatives:
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: The goals of the Child Sexual Abuse initiative are to help educate adults about the prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the vital role adults have in preventing CSA. The Virginia Department of Health hosted several trainings on CSA prevention using the “Stewards of Children” Curriculum developed by Darkness to Light. Fifty-seven (57) individuals are now certified to provide Stewards of Children, Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Trainings to educate adults about their role in ending CSA. The Virginia Department of Health also partnered with the Virginia Department of Social Services, Family and Children's Trust Fund of Virginia to host four community forums on sexual assault across the lifespan.
Men Ending Violence: The goals of the Men Ending Violence are to increase adult and adolescent males’ involvement in the primary prevention of sexual and domestic violence and provide training, technical assistance, and resources to male-serving agencies to increase the capacity of communities to effectively engage men and boys in sexual and domestic violence prevention.
Dating Violence Prevention Program: The Dating Violence Prevention Program provides information, training, and resources on dating violence prevention to professionals who work with youth, teens, and college students. The program offers training on multiple curricula on dating violence including: Safe Dates, Choose Respect, RELATE, Love Is Not Abuse, Building Healthy Relationships Across Virginia, and Crossing the Line.
Statutory Rape Awareness Program: The Statutory Rape Awareness Program provides information and resources to address statutory rape and sexual coercion of minor teens. The goals of the program are to: raise community awareness of the problem of statutory rape, reduce the incidence of statutory rape, educate youth service professionals on topic of statutory rape, and educate youth about sexual coercion. The program provides education and training on the issue of statutory rape to state and local education systems, family planning nurses, relevant counseling services, and youth. Two available online learning tools are listed below:
• KnowCoercion.com is an interactive web dialogue providing information on statutory rape for youth, parents, and other adults. The information is provided with the goal of preventing abusive relationships and reducing the incidence of statutory rape, rates of teen pregnancy, school dropout, and sexually transmitted disease www.knowcoercion.com.
• Online training is available for professionals working with youth, including an hour-long presentation with video and audio that discusses Virginia code regarding statutory rape, the dynamics of statutory rape, and sexual coercion of minor teens. The training also provides information on how to help youth in such relationships. Participants can printout a certificate of completion at the end of the training. http://sexualviolence.vdhcourse.vi.virginia.gov
For more information on the Rape and Sexual Violence Prevention Program, visit VDH’s website at: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ofhs/prevention/dsvp/index.htm.
43 75 Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Surveillance Efforts
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 32.1-283.3 (B), the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) collects information on all homicides in the Commonwealth of Virginia and conducts surveillance of those homicides that result from family and intimate partner violence. Using data to educate and inform about the volume and breadth of fatal family violence, the OCME publishes a yearly report entitled Family and Intimate Partner Violence Homicide, which can be accessed at: www.vdh.virginia.gov/medExam/Violence.htm.
The OCME also receives grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for the Virginia Violent Death Reporting System (VVDRS). The OCME received funding from the CDC in the amount of $235,403 for FY 2011-2012 and $235,403 for FY 2012-2013 to support the VVDRS, which conducts surveillance of violent death cases for reporting to the CDC. VVDRS cases include, but are not limited to, (1) all cases of suicide where the victim had an intimate partner problem (not necessarily violence), was the perpetrator of interpersonal violence within the past month, and/or was the victim of interpersonal violence within the past month; and (2) all homicides which were related to intimate partner violence and/or intimate partner jealousy or rivalry. Reports from this project are posted at www.vdh.virginia.gov/medExam/NVDRS.htm#reports.
Domestic Violence Fatality Review
With funding through the Virginia Partnership for Community Defined Solutions (CDS) to Violence Against Women (formerly GEAP), the OCME works directly with Virginia communities to establish domestic violence related local or regional fatality review teams. The goal of fatality review is to thoroughly examine the dynamics and circumstances associated with domestic violence related death in order to identify and implement prevention strategies and improve the community’s overall response to domestic violence. The OCME provides technical assistance to domestic violence fatality review teams, including team member recruitment, developing team policies and procedures, obtaining local government endorsement, training on the theory and method of fatality review, developing recommendations and preparing reports. As of October 1, 2012, seventeen local domestic violence fatality review teams have been established across the Commonwealth of Virginia. A listing of local fatality review teams is provided in Appendix E. Resources and materials developed to support these teams are available at www.vdh.virginia.gov/medExam/dvfr/resources.htm.
In October 2010, the OCME was awarded $107,206 as part of the Virginia GEAP Partnership to continue its fatality review initiatives during FY2010-2012 under the Community Defined Solutions to Violence Against Women Act. Collaborative projects include an advanced leadership training institute on community response to sexual and domestic violence and continued development of a website featuring resource materials about sexual and domestic violence in Virginia (see www.communitysolutionsva.org). OCME specific projects include design and implementation of a web- based data collection tool and report system for use by local fatality review teams.
44 76 Virginia Department of Corrections
The Virginia Department of Corrections’ (DOC) goals for sexual and domestic violence services are to support the safety and well-being of victims, children and the community. We strive to hold offenders accountable for their crimes while supporting them in their process of change.
Three main components of the DOC’s response to sexual and domestic violence are (1) evidenced based programs and curriculum; (2) case planning and offender supervision; and (3) victim services and advocacy.
Prison Rape Elimination Act
In May of this year, the rule outlining the national standards for the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was signed by the Attorney General. The rule was published in June and the DOC has subsequently been implementing standards to ensure compliance. The PREA standards are designed to prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse in confinement facilities. A state whose Governor does not certify full compliance with the standards is subject to the loss of five percent of any Department of Justice grant funds that it would otherwise receive for prison purposes.
The standards speak to categories including prevention planning, responsive planning, training and education, screening for risk of sexual victimization and abusiveness, reporting, official response following reports, investigations, discipline, medical and mental care, data collection and review and audits. The standards do impose some significant burdens on state correctional systems and the estimated cost of compliance for the DOC is approximately 2.1 million dollars annually. Additional cost will be faced for compliance of the Department of Juvenile Justice (rough estimate of $600,000 annually).
The DOC has made significant progress in implementation of the standards and will continue to move forward to full compliance in early 2013. Currently, the DOC has redesigned the training for staff and offenders and DOC has a kick off date of January 1, 2013 for the new training. Additionally, DOC is creating a plan to provide and sight and sound separation of offenders under the age of 18 from adult offenders and mental health division has redesigned the screening instrument to meet the standard and identify risk thresh hold for victimization and abusiveness. A memorandum of understanding has been drafted to deliver to required outside third party advocacy services.
The first round of Department of Justice audits is scheduled for August 2013, and national accreditation organizations will also begin audits for PREA compliance at that time.
Domestic Violence Offenders-Institutions
Although the DOC does not currently have a system-wide domestic violence education program, DOC provided programming and services to address the impact of crime. Facility staffs are provided opportunities for training on sexual and domestic violence. Domestic abuse intervention programs do not guarantee that offenders will cease their violence. Nor are interventions intended to salvage relationships. Some examples of programming offered during incarceration include:
45 1. Anger Management-This program utilizes a cognitive-behavioral approach in order for participants to accomplish the following objectives: (1) to understand the causes and patterns of anger and its effects on personal and interpersonal relationships; (2) to increase the self-awareness skills in relationship to personal anger traits; (3) to learn how to communicate more effectively; (4) to learn listening skills; (5) to learn about stress; and (6) to identify, understand and cope with difficult behavior.
2. Advanced Anger Management-This program is based on materials in the public domain published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the title" Anger Management for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Clients" (2002, 2008). The purpose of this program is to offer offenders a supportive environment in which they can share experiences, learn about themselves, gain insight and discover new methods to deal with their anger and other emotional needs in a socially appropriate manner. Participants are expected to develop individualized anger control plans, and demonstrate improved self-control in stressful or anger-provoking situations.
3. From Family Violence to Healthy Relationships-This program follows the content and delivery method of the Virginia Standards for Batterer Intervention Programs. It is built upon the theoretical basis of the ‘Stages of Change’ model as is associated with Motivational Interviewing, developed by James O. Prochaska, Ph.D. and Carlo C. DiClemente, Ph.D. in 1979. The ‘Stages of Change’ model has six (6) components that will facilitate an opportunity for participants to begin a process that will allow for identification of a problem and change in their behavior. The six (6) stages include Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Determination, Action, Maintenance, and Relapse. Following the principles of Motivational Interviewing, the group process will encourage the expression of empathy, develop a sense of discrepancy, avoid argumentation among group members and facilitator, and support the self- efficiency of the participant. The Family Violence Intervention Program is designed to assist offenders in recognizing and understanding family violence and improving relationships within their families and others, with the goal of decreasing family violence in Virginia.
4. Thinking for a Change-This program is designed to teach offenders appropriate social skills, help them develop their problem-solving strategies, and teach them appropriate cognitive restructuring techniques, which may subsequently impact criminogenic risk factors. The goal is for participants to decrease criminal thinking through cognitive behavioral changes and skill development.
5. Breaking Barriers-This program utilizes a cognitive-behavioral approach in order for participants to accomplish the following objectives: (1) to understand and develop a deeper awareness, understanding, and appreciation of potential; (2) to acquire a stronger belief in their own ability to create a common vision; and (3) to develop an expanded vision of the many possibilities, opportunities, and options that they may be overlooking.
6. Productive Citizenship-The Life Skills Program is a model curriculum which uses a psycho- educational format to provide inmates with basic information needed to manage their lives in the community, with the ultimate goal of having them lead productive, law abiding lives after release.
7. Emotion Regulation Skills Group-This group provides an overall hierarchy of treatment goals beginning with decreasing life-threatening and "institution threatening" behaviors (e.g., stealing, assaultive behavior, destroying property), increasing participation in treatment, increasing quality of life, and improving behavioral skills. The Emotion Regulation Skills group has the additional goal of decreasing the emotional and behavioral ability of participants. This is done by learning and applying specific skills such as identifying and labeling emotions; identifying obstacles to changing emotions;
46 reducing vulnerability to "emotion mind"; increasing positive emotional events; increasing mindfulness to current emotions; taking opposite action; and applying distress tolerance techniques.
8. Distress Tolerance Skills Group-This group provides an overall hierarchy of treatment goals beginning with decreasing life-threatening and "institution threatening" behaviors (e.g., stealing, assaultive behavior, destroying property), increasing participation in treatment, increasing quality of life, and improving behavioral skills. The Distress Tolerance Skills Group has the additional goal of increasing crisis survival skills and the ability to accept the current reality. This is done by learning and applying specific skills such as distraction, self-soothing, improving the moment, thinking of the pros and cons, and radical acceptance.
Sexual Violence Offenders-Institutions
Currently sixteen DOC facilities are designated to provide sex offender treatment. Designated sex offender treatment sites may provide a variety of services including assessment, psycho-educational groups, therapeutic groups, or residential treatment services. Assessment is comprised of a specialized evaluation to identify an offender’s specific sex offender treatment needs and risk of re-offense. Psycho- educational treatment is education-based and provided via non-therapeutic groups of both sex offender-specific and ancillary topics which require an offender to demonstrate a particular level of content knowledge. Offenders to this level of treatment and offenders are prioritized according to their release date. Psycho-education is the first and most basic level of treatment.
Following completion of psycho-educational groups, offenders are screened for appropriateness for therapeutic treatment. Such individual or group treatment identifies and addresses the dynamics and occurrence of sexual behavior and utilizes specific strategies to promote behavioral change. This level of treatment is reserved for offenders who have been assessed as being at medium to high risk of sexual re-offense.
1. Sex Offender Residential Treatment (SORT)-Residential treatment for sex offenders is provided in the SORT Program located at Greensville Correctional Center. The goal of the Program is to provide comprehensive assessment and treatment services to offenders who have been identified as being at moderate to high risk for sexual re-offense. The SORT Program utilizes psycho-educational and therapeutic interventions as well as extensive assessment measures, including the polygraph and penile plethysmograph (PPG). Offenders are referred from across the Department; program staffs accept those most appropriate for intensive treatment. The program utilizes techniques which have been shown to have the greatest likelihood of reducing sexual reoffending behavior; the treatment methods and theoretical underpinnings of the program are based on the merging of the Transtheoretical Model of Change, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Good Lives Model, and Relapse Prevention. These treatment models are supported by research consistent with evidence based practices (EBP), and their integration is a natural progression in the treatment of sex offenders.
2. Sex Offender Awareness Program (SOAP) -SOAP Version 2 is an introductory psycho- education program designed to provide sexual offenders with basic information about sexual offender behavior and treatment issues. Not everyone who is appropriate for the SOAP group will require additional treatment. However, completion of this group can also provide a foundation for additional treatment in those cases where additional treatment has been deemed appropriate.
3. Therapeutic Insight Group- This group will utilize numerous activities and materials to aid
47 offenders in cultivating pro-social behaviors, attitudes and values and improving choices for life satisfaction: (1) completion of various inventories to aid the offender in exploring and understanding their values; (2) group discussion of problematic behaviors and exploration of underlying values and beliefs; (3) problem-solving exercises to aid the offender to increase their coping skills, self-efficacy, etc.; (4) role playing as a means to practice new behaviors and solidify pro-social values/beliefs (e.g. empathy); (5) utilization of the group process to promote pro-social values such as support and the development of appropriate friendships, active involvement in a community, recognition of the rights and needs of others and accepting change; and (6) homework assignments to reinforce emotional intelligence addressed in group as social judgment skills.
4. Thinking for a Change for Sex Offenders-This curriculum uses as its core, a problem solving program using both cognitive restructuring and social skills interventions. While each of the concepts is presented systemically, the participant ideally learns that cognitive restructuring requires cognitive skills methods. Cognitive skills development requires an objective, systematic approach to identifying thinking, beliefs, attitudes, and values. As depicted in the Program Outline, the cognitive restructuring concepts are introduced and emphasized during the initial (lessons 1-15) lessons of the program, interspersed with targeted critical social skills development which supports the cognitive restructuring process. This segment is followed by the development of problem solving techniques (lessons 16-21), again supported by appropriate social skills. Simultaneously, the problem solving portion of the curriculum relies heavily upon the restructuring concepts and techniques already introduced to the participants, thereby integrating all three approaches. This closed group consists of 22 lessons, and includes role-plays, presentations, homework assignments, discussion, and group participation directed towards deviant sexual offending behavior.
Domestic Violence Offenders-Community Corrections
Once released from incarceration, offenders ordered to serve community supervision with DOC are placed on the caseload of a Probation and Parole Officer (PO). Some Probation and Parole (P&P) Offices assign offenders with convictions for Assault and Battery of a Family Member to the Intensive Supervision Team. Intensive Supervision involves enhanced surveillance of offenders through increased contacts with offender and in the community. Services provided to offenders include random urinalysis, HEM (Home Electronic Monitoring) or telephonic monitoring, curfews, treatment agency referrals and follow-up, employment and home checks. Upon completion of Intensive Supervision, offenders are returned to conventional supervision. It was piloted in 1985 and is available statewide. It continues to operate above capacity levels which require conventional Probation and Parole Officers to supervise offenders whose risk level justifies ISP.
Regardless of the level of supervision, the PO conducts a risk assessment to determine best practices for supervision. POs check status of protective orders; place high risk clients on GPS Monitoring; conduct frequent office and home visits; and make referrals to local Batterer Intervention Programs, substance abuse or mental health services if needed.
In response to the court order, COMPAS score and past criminal history, the PO will determine what programming is required for the offender. Programs and services available for offenders convicted of domestic violence can include: • In-house anger management groups • In-house Programs, including: Thinking for a Change • In-house substance abuse treatment
48 • In-house Mental Health Services • Referral to Batterer Intervention Program • Referral to Community Services Board • Random urine screens and breathalyzers • GPS monitoring
P&P are members of local Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams and attend annual training on domestic violence. They work closely with the local advocates, law enforcement, and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Sexual Violence Offenders-Community Corrections
Currently, DOC houses approximately 7,800 sexual offenders in correctional institutions and supervises approximately 3,500 registered sex offenders in the community. In addition, a five percent increase in registered sex offenders released to supervision in the community is anticipated in 2011. Sex offenders present unique challenges in regard to reentry although their recidivism rate itself is often not as high as general offenders. Based on national data, the recidivism risk for sex offenders is relatively low (13.7% observed recidivism rate over five years in an analysis of 95 studies involving over 31,000 offenders).
Sex offenders in Virginia are required to register with the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minor Registry. Probation and Parole Districts maintain a listing of all sex offenders along with their photographs. Virtually all sex offenders are in the intensive level of supervision.
In 1995, the Virginia General Assembly created the first Senior Probation and Parole Officer Sex Offender Supervision Specialist position. Probation and Parole Districts were asked to submit proposals on how that position would be utilized if awarded to that district. District 35, Prince William County, was awarded the position and the first official Sex Offender Containment Team was established. The containment model of supervision is victim centered and founded on the premise that offenders are 100% responsible for their behavior. The three central elements are external control (the criminal justice system), internal control (sex offender treatment), and the use of the polygraph examination.
At the time the containment model was making inroads in Virginia, the first sex offender treatment contract was developed for use in community supervision. The elements of this contract have evolved throughout the years, and there are currently 20 providers on the contract. Through these contract services, Probation and Parole districts now have the following services available to them: sex offender assessment, psycho-education services and sex offender treatment services for offenders in community corrections. Additionally, eight polygraph examiners are also contracted to conduct examinations in the 43 districts and the SORT Program. Since 1995, seventeen districts have been designated “containment sites.” A team approach is used and the team is most often comprised of a Senior Probation and Parole Officer, Sex Offender Supervision Specialist Officer, and a Surveillance Officer. Data collection over the years has supported this approach to sex offender supervision. In the July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 Community Corrections Status Report, these containment sites reported a 23% overall re‐arrest rate (609 new offenses, 102 of which were registry offenses) of which less than 1.7% (44) were for new sexual offenses. The remaining 26 districts, though not given the additional resources referenced above, have also incorporated the concept of the containment model into their sex offender supervision.
49 Programs used for those offenders identified as sex offenders include: • Referral to sex offender treatment • Polygraphs • GPS monitoring • Close monitoring by State Police • Safety planning with family members
Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence
In order to promote public safety, the DOC Victim Services Unit (VSU) provides notification assistance and referral services to all victims of offenders under its custody. The unit establishes and maintains services for victims of crime, including victim registration and notification, offender status and location, offender release plans, victim awareness education, and impact of crime education for offenders.
An important aspect of the role of VSU is to provide victims with information about the correctional system and notification of an inmate’s custody status. The Victim Bill of Rights entitles victims to receive notification regarding transfers, name change, death, release, escape and parole events (if eligible). The VSU is able to notify victims as long as the victim has provided them with updated contact information throughout the inmate’s incarceration. During Fiscal Year 2012, the VSU provided services to 618 new victims, 139 reported being victims of sexual violence, while 31 reported being victims of domestic violence. If the victim is incarcerated, facility mental health staff would provide services and referrals. DOC facilities provide programs for offenders who have been victimized, to include:
• Making Peace with Your Past-This program seeks to: (1) identify and understand problems and feelings from childhood; (2) identify ways their past impact today; (3) unearth buried feelings from the past and experience healing, forgiveness and recover; (4) experience an atmosphere of trust honesty and love in a small group to bring about hope, healing and wholeness.
• Trauma Resolution-The goal of this group is to assist offenders who have significant PTSD symptoms in gaining coping skills necessary for improved functioning, to develop a better understanding of how to normalize symptoms, monitor triggers, employ grounding techniques, and reduce overall impact of past traumas on daily functioning. is This group is psycho- educational in nature-not process oriented-and so participants’ trauma histories are not directly discussed. Rather, the use and impact of coping skills and various expressive techniques are taught and processed.
• Seeking Safety-Seeking Safety is a present-focused treatment for clients with a history of trauma and substance abuse. The program focuses on coping skills and psycho-education and is based on five central ideas: (1) safety as the primary goal; (2) integrated treatment of PTSD and substance abuse; (3) a focus on ideals; (4) four content areas: cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, and case management; and (5) attention to therapist processes. The goal of this program is to increase the individual’s safety by discounting self-destructive behaviors such as substance abuse, letting go of dangerous relationships, gaining control over extreme symptoms, and stopping self-harming behaviors. Seeking Safety attempts to assist the individual in attaining
50 safety in their relationships, thinking, behavior, and emotions; and move individuals towards freeing themselves from negative behaviors.
77 Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
The mission of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is to create safe, affordable, and prosperous communities to live, work and do business in Virginia. DHCD partners with Virginia’s communities to develop their economic potential; regulates Virginia’s building and fire codes, provides training and certification for building officials, and invests in housing and community development projects throughout the Commonwealth. The majority of these projects are designed to help low-to-moderate-income citizens. By partnering with local governments, nonprofit groups, state and federal agencies, and others, DHCD strives to improve the quality of life for Virginians.
DHCD does not provide initiatives specifically related to domestic violence. However, the state- funded State Shelter Grant (SSG) and the federally-funded Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) are available to homeless service providers that also provide services to victims of domestic violence. Approximately one-third of the homeless shelter provider network, is self-categorized as domestic violence shelters.78 In addition, approximately 15% of all individuals who obtain shelter services are victims of domestic violence. Additional information regarding the funds administered by DHCD for domestic violence shelters is provided in the "Funding Sources and Grant Programs" Section.
79 Virginia Department of Social Services, Office of Family Violence
Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 63.2-1611 through 63.2-1615, the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) is responsible for the coordination and management of domestic violence prevention and service efforts across the Commonwealth. In accomplishing its statutory mission, the Virginia Department of Social Services, Office of Family Violence (OFV), funds local public and private nonprofit domestic violence programs that address the issue of domestic violence within their community and provide services to all people in that community who have experienced or been impacted by domestic violence. The OFV’s primary goals are to support local domestic violence programs, to provide leadership and coordination within DSS on domestic violence as it relates to child and abuse and neglect and other DSS service areas, to educate local DSS agencies, community organizations and the general public on the effects of domestic violence, and to work collaboratively with the state domestic violence coalition and other state agencies. The OFV endeavors to provide consistent and reliable services 80 through local service providers for victims and children in every locality of the Commonwealth.
Domestic Violence Prevention and Services Program- Support to Domestic Violence Programs
Through contracts with local domestic violence programs, OFV supports local programs to provide an array of direct services to victims of domestic violence and their children, including crisis hotlines, shelter for victims and their children, emergency transportation, translation services for limited and non-English speaking victims, services for children and youth exposed to domestic violence, legal advocacy, including court accompaniment, explanation of legal options, and referrals to attorneys, assistance with applications for social services, safety planning and counseling for victims in crisis and non-crisis situations.
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In addition to funding local programs that provide services to victims and their children, through a contract with the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (Action Alliance), the OFV continues to support the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline, the Virginia Data Collection Project (VAdata), the provision of technical assistance for local programs and communities, as well as the provision of training for local domestic violence advocates.
There are four funding sources for the Domestic Violence Prevention and Services Program, representing both state and federal funds. Funds from the Victims of Crime Act, Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and the Virginia Family Violence Prevention Program are pooled to provide a broad funding base for Virginia’s local domestic violence programs. In 2010 and continuing through December 2011, funds from the American Recovery and 81 Reinvestment Act also provided a source of funding, supporting new services in two localities.
In 2012, the OFV awarded $7.2 million in grant and contract funding to 47 local domestic 82 violence programs and to the statewide domestic violence coalition, the Action Alliance.
Domestic Violence Services in Un-Served Communities
In 2010, the OFV identified seven localities in Virginia that were un-served or underserved. With a small increase in federal funding and recouped funds from a program that closed, a new funding opportunity was developed. Two existing domestic violence programs expanded into additional counties, and Tri-County Community Action Agency developed a domestic violence program component beginning in January 2011. These funds were folded into the Domestic Violence Prevention and Services Grant for a new competitive funding process. All three projects were funded for on-going services in FY 2013.
Training, Education, Public Awareness and Prevention Efforts
In an effort to increase awareness regarding domestic violence issues, the OFV develops and distributes resource materials to local domestic violence programs, local social services departments, and the public.
The OFV purchased and distributed resources to all grant funded domestic violence programs during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The materials for FY 2012 focused on serving diverse populations.
The OFV also continued promotion of the “Domestic Violence: It’s Closer Than You Think” public awareness campaign throughout 2012. This campaign sends the message to average bystanders that anyone can be a victim of abuse. Images representing six diverse individuals help the public broaden their views on who may be affected by domestic violence. Posters, flyers, and brochures are sent upon request to domestic violence programs and community organizations throughout the Commonwealth. The electronic version of the campaign materials is available to local domestic violence programs for their personalization. Additional information and resource materials for this campaign can be found online at: www.closerthanyouthink.org.
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, DSS participated in the Futures Without Violence RESPECT Challenge. Over 50 DSS employees submitted their response to the question: “Who would you
52 like to thank for teaching you respect?” DSS developed 8 posters and a video which was submitted in the national RESPECT Challenge contest, and was selected as one of the top 5 finalists.
The OFV also coordinates the Domestic Violence Action Team (DVAT), a multi-disciplinary team representing DSS, the Virginia Department of Health, the Office of the Attorney General, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, local domestic violence programs, and local departments of social services. DVAT focuses on the statewide response to victims of domestic violence. The DVAT set priorities for collaborative work that will improve the safety of victims of domestic violence. The top three priorities address 1) the needs of victims of domestic violence with substance abuse and mental health issues, 2) Rapid Re-housing for victims of domestic violence, and 3) improving the quality and consistency of data collection. These priorities will continue to be the focus of DVAT over the next year.
Statewide Domestic Violence Outcomes
The domestic violence programs funded through the OFV report on uniform outcomes through the VAdata system regarding individuals served by their programs. The results for FY 2012 are:
• Outcome # 1: 91% of individuals making victim related (victim, family & friend) calls to the hotline were more informed about the dynamics of domestic violence and services available through domestic violence programs. • Outcome # 2: 89% of DV survivors who called the hotline were given referrals to community resources to increase their capacity to acquire resources needed to live a violence-free life. • Outcome # 3: 83% of survivors requesting shelter were protected from violence and abuse from the perpetrator by the arrangement for or provision of shelter. • Outcome # 4: 84% of DV survivors were able to identify their safety options through participation in the development of a safety plan.
83 Virginia Department of State Police
The Virginia Department of State Police (VSP) serves the Commonwealth as the primary state law enforcement agency and assists the criminal justice system in a wide range of capacities. One of VSP’s primary responsibilities involves the sharing of information with other members of the criminal justice system.
The Criminal Justice Information Systems Division (CJIS) is responsible for administering the systems that are used to disseminate this information. This information is made available through multiple databases including: the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN), the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), the Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry, the Virginia Protective Order Registry, the Virginia Firearms Transaction Center (VFTC), and the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).
VSP also serves as the central repository for incident-based data reported by local law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth. The Uniform Crime/Incident Based Reporting (UCR/IBR) section of the CJIS Division collects, analyzes, and disseminates statistics to members across
53 the Commonwealth. This data is then compiled into an annual report entitled Crime in Virginia, available online at www.vsp.state.va.us/Crime_in_Virginia.shtm.
The Virginia Protective Order Registry
In 2002, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 52-45 and 19.2-387.1, VSP established the Protective Order Registry which serves as a central repository of information regarding outstanding, valid protective orders. The purpose of the Registry is to assist the efforts of local law enforcement agencies to protect their communities and their citizens by facilitating access to current protective order information. This information is maintained and disseminated by the Registry as accurately and completely as possible to assist in the expedited entry and dissemination of protective order information upon request to criminal justice agencies, including local law-enforcement agencies, through VCIN. The Virginia Protective Order Registry works in conjunction with the National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC) Protective Order File. This ensures that all Virginia-issued protective orders are entered into both the state and national databases, allowing for greater enforcement of these orders across the country.
In addition, VSP works in conjunction with the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to develop and implement the E-Magistrate system. This system allows magistrates to enter both warrants and emergency protective orders instantly into VCIN and NCIC upon issuance.
84 Virginia Poverty Law Center
The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) provides leadership, support, training, public education, and advocacy to address the civil legal needs of Virginia’s low-income population. VPLC works collaboratively with Virginia’s legal aid community, other organizations, and stakeholders to represent the interests of low-income Virginians in the courts, executive agencies, and legislative bodies. VPLC’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Project addresses the legal needs of victims of domestic, intimate partner and sexual violence through training and technical assistance to legal aid and private attorneys, advocates, and other service providers, legislative advocacy, phone consultations, and direct legal representation in limited situations. As a statewide support organization for local legal aid programs throughout Virginia, staff members engage in public policy efforts to improve and/or establish laws that empower domestic and sexual violence victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. With other local and statewide stakeholders and input from local legal aid attorneys and victims’ services staff members, VPLC strives to educate legislators about the impact of various protocols, procedures, and legislation on victims and their families. VPLC provides training and technical assistance to legal services and private attorneys, victims’ services advocates, and other service providers about domestic, intimate partner and sexual violence issues. VPLC participates in and manages issue-related listservs and has a domestic and sexual violence staff attorney who travels throughout Virginia to provide training.
Because VPLC is a statewide support organization for local legal aid programs and their staff, VPLC staff attorneys do not generally handle individual cases except when asked to act as co-counsel with a legal aid attorney. VPLC staff attorneys provide legal consultations over the phone and may be available, however, on a limited basis, to provide direct legal representation in matters involving complicated or innovative legal issues. During the fall of 2009, VPLC launched a pilot quarterly clinic in Richmond to provide legal services to immigrants who are victims of domestic or sexual violence
54 through a private partnership with a local immigration law firm, the Challa Law Offices. The clinic has served over 50 clients since its inception. VPLC hopes to replicate this clinic in other parts of Virginia over the next few years. Additional information about VPLC may be found online at: www.vplc.org.
85 Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance has been Virginia’s leading voice on sexual and domestic violence for 30 years and enhances response and prevention efforts through training, public policy advocacy, public awareness programs, and technical assistance to professionals. As an advocacy organization, the Action Alliance provides the expertise needed to ensure an effective response. As a service provider, the Action Alliance offers people resources for making informed choices. As a membership organization, the Action Alliance builds diverse alliances across the Commonwealth. The Action Alliance envisions a future where all communities are free of sexual and domestic violence, where individual sexual behaviors are safe and respectful, where healthy relationships thrive, and where survivors are empowered in an environment of respect and mutual learning.
As a statewide coalition, or alliance, members include 52 domestic violence programs and 38 sexual assault crisis centers, allied organizations providing services to victims of domestic and sexual assault and other individuals from diverse communities. The Action Alliance provides more than 50 trainings each year for members and other community professionals. In addition, members benefit from the Action Alliance resource clearinghouse, including access to journals, media resources and special displays such as the Silent Witness and the Art of Surviving. For more information on Action Alliance projects and resources visit the website at www.vsdvalliance.org.
To accomplish its mission, the Action Alliance relies upon federal and state grant funding, membership fees, and private contributions. In 2012, the Action Alliance received 81% of its approximately $2.2 million budget from federal and state grants and contracts, including funding from the Office on Violence Against Women, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Virginia Department of Social Services. Approximately 19% of the Action Alliance’s funding was from private sources, including membership dues, fees, fundraising, and private contributions.
Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline
Through a grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services, the Action Alliance operates the statewide toll-free Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline, answered 24 hours a day by trained advocates who provide crisis counseling and link family, friends, and survivors to resources in their community: 1-800-838-8238. This year the Hotline responded to 3,131 Hotline calls and 19,984 calls on behalf of 30 local Sexual and Domestic Violence agencies during the time the Hotline was serving as back-up to those agencies. The Hotline also maintained 2 full-time Spanish-speaking Hotline advocates to respond to the increasing number of Spanish-speaking Hotline calls.
55 Public Policy and Legislative Initiatives
Public policy is a critical component of comprehensive and effective victim advocacy. The Action Alliance monitors the development and implementation of state and federal laws that affect victims of sexual and domestic violence and sexual and domestic violence agencies. The Action Alliance also works collaboratively with state agencies including the Virginia Departments of Social Services, Criminal Justice Services, Health, and Housing and Community Development, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and others. The Action Alliance also holds an annual Legislative Advocacy Day in order to inform members and elected representatives about legislation related to sexual and domestic violence.
Building Healthy Futures Fund
Virginia’s sexual and domestic violence agencies are engaged in a wide variety of prevention efforts across the state—and they are struggling to fund those initiatives. The priority for public funding, especially in challenging economic times, is “public safety,” which is most often interpreted as crisis services for victims and treatment or incarceration for perpetrators. Although every dollar invested in prevention not only changes the lives of individuals, it saves literally hundreds of dollars in the costs associated with future violence, public funding is very limited and fewer than one third of sexual and domestic violence agencies receive any of these limited funds. Prevention efforts must therefore rely upon funds raised in the private sector, from individuals, organizations, businesses and foundations. In order to sustain and expand prevention efforts across the state, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance is re-launching the Building Healthy Futures Fund.
The Building Healthy Futures Fund will contain a shared revenue between the Action Alliance and its member sexual and domestic violence advocacy agencies wherein the Action Alliance retains 15 percent of the yearly profits for development and maintenance of the fund and the remainder of the proceeds will be divided evenly among shareholders based on the number of shares held by each member agency.
The Action Alliance has designed a Special Interest License Plate and developed a website to inform the public about the initiative: www.drivepeacehome.org. Beginning in October 2012, member agencies and the Action Alliance Governing Body will engage in selling the minimum required 450 pre- paid license plates.
Public Awareness Efforts
In April 2007, the Action Alliance launched The Art of Surviving exhibit, a powerful exhibit of artwork and poetry created by survivors of sexual violence. In 2008, the Action Alliance worked with Metta Knowledge for Peace and the University of Virginia (UVA) Library to request funding from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities to create an Art of Surviving website and online digital exhibition. The UVA Library professionally digitized all of the artwork for the online exhibit, which can be viewed at www.artofsurviving.org.
Beating Hearts is a photographic project inspired by true stories of domestic violence. The series of twelve posters, each 22” x 28”, is based on stories and artwork from the original Beating Hearts exhibit, which features large and small photo constructions (some of them 3-dimensional) with accompanying text. The exhibit can be viewed on the Action Alliance website at www.vsdvalliance.org
56 and can be borrowed for display by affiliate and sexual and domestic violence advocacy members of the Action Alliance.
Inspired by a national public awareness project, Silent Witness Virginia seeks to raise awareness of domestic violence and create opportunities for healing through a visual memorial to lives lost. Virginians who have lost loved ones to domestic violence homicide are invited to submit their stories and life-sized plywood silhouettes are created as memorials to these victims. In 2011, Silent Witness became a regional project with member sexual and domestic violence agencies housing the silhouettes and organizing displays for agencies in their area. The Action Alliance provided necessary materials and guidance to ensure the success of the project and to increase the visibility of the Silent Witness displays by housing them regionally. During October 2011, a coordinated effort was made to display Silent Witness throughout the month in a variety of settings to highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Approximately 13,320 people saw the Art of Surviving and Beating Hearts exhibits in 2011.
Protective Order Conference
The Action Alliance Training Institute welcomed nearly 125 advocates, law enforcement, and other allied professionals to its biennial conference this year to learn about and discuss effective enforcement of protective orders and enhanced community response to domestic and sexual violence. Guest speakers included Jeff Dion of the National Center for Victims of Crime and Leslye Orloff from the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project.
Reproductive Coercion and Domestic Violence
The Action Alliance received PHHS funding this year to support an initiative that will build the capacity of staff working in local domestic violence shelters to screen for reproductive coercion and link survivors to resources in their communities to meet their healthcare needs. This initiative will involve four domestic violence program pilot sites and will build on the previous work set forth by Project Connect and the Virginia Department of Health.
The Red Flag Campaign
During 2011-2012, the Action Alliance continued to expand and strengthen its Red Flag Campaign to address dating violence and promote the prevention of dating violence on college campuses. Three Virginia campuses joined the Red Flag Campaign as “Partner Campuses” this year, including: 1. The Art of Institute of Virginia Beach * 2. Central Virginia Community College 3. College of William and Mary (no materials needed) 4. Emory & Henry College (no materials needed) 5. Germanna Community College 6. James Madison University 7. Jefferson College of Health Sciences 8. J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 9. Longwood University (no materials needed) 10. Norfolk State University * 11. Northern Virginia Community College
57 12. Old Dominion University * 13. Paul D. Camp Community College 14. Thomas Nelson Community College 15. Tidewater Community College 16. University of Mary Washington 17. University of Virginia 18. Virginia State University 19. Virginia Union University 20. Virginia Wesleyan College *First year as partner campus
The Red Flag Campaign introduced a new men’s element in 2011, the stadium cup, with the goal of encouraging men to “say something” when they see a red flag for dating violence. The cups feature a QR code, which will direct the user to an online prevention survey when scanned with a smart phone.
The Campaign was launched in Virginia in 2007 and has since spread across the country to campuses in 28 other states and Canada, including the University of Hawaii, the Culinary Institute of America, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. It was created in partnership with college students, college personnel, and community victim advocates, and is funded by grants from the Verizon Foundation, Verizon Wireless, Macy’s Foundation, and more recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
th 30 Anniversary The 30th anniversary honorees include: Greg Beitzel- Staunton, VA th The Action Alliance celebrated its 30 anniversary in The Honorable Rob Bell- Charlottesville, V A 2011 and coordinated efforts to celebrate the many Pat Brown- Radford, VA accomplishments achieved during this time. Events were held Judy Casteele- Lexington, VA at to recognize the first rape crisis center, which opened in Steve Clementi- Richmond, VA Norfolk in 1974, and the first domestic violence shelter, which Gay Cutchin- Petersburg, VA opened in Radford in 1977, in addition to other events held Kathleen Demro- Henrico, VA throughout the year and across the Commonwealth. As part Deb Downing- Gum Spring, VA Kassandra Edwards- Prince George, VA of the yearlong celebration, the Action Alliance selected 30 Regina Eller- Wytheville, VA honorees whose service to the development of the statewide Candace Feathers- Virginia Beach, VA coalition has been utterly indelible: far-reaching and Marcella Fierro- Richmond, VA fundamental to moving the work of domestic and sexual Janett Forte- Doswell, VA violence in Virginia forward. The honorees were nominated Patricia Foster- Martinsville, VA by friends, colleagues and constituents, each with a different Pat Groot- Palmyra, VA contribution to Virginia. Ted Heck- Richmond, VA The Honorable Janet Howell- Reston, VA Patricia Jones-Turner- Chesterfield, VA Claire Kaplan- Charlottesville, VA Cartie Lominack- Charlottesville, VA Ruth Micklem- Whitestone, VA Dilcia Molina- Fredericksburg, VA Harriet McCollum- (formerly) Richmond, VA Grace Orsini- Norfolk, VA Mary Beth Pulsifer- Radford, VA Alice Twining- Virginia Beach, VA
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Governor's Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Advisory Board
On October 1, 2010, Governor Bob McDonnell signed Executive Order 25 to establish the Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Advisory Board (“Advisory Board”). On April 25, 2012, Governor McDonnell issued Executive Order 44 to continue the work of the Advisory Board for a second year.
During 2012, the Advisory Board, under the leadership of Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker, continued its work with state agencies, local agencies, and stakeholders to make findings and recommendations to enhance Virginia's prevention of and response to domestic violence at all levels. The Advisory Board focused on strategies for implementing the recommendations made in 2011 and considered new recommendations to further the goal of improving laws, policies, and procedures.
Specifically, the Advisory Board was tasked with a number of responsibilities, including:
• Assisting with the implementation of adopted recommendations in the Board's 2011 Report; • Recommending strategies for improving services to children who have experienced, witnessed, or been exposed to the effects of domestic violence; • Continuing to make recommendations, as necessary, to improve Virginia's protective order process and providing input regarding how to further enhance the enforcement of protective orders; • Working with community partners and state agencies to enhance services and community response to victims of domestic violence who are traditionally underserved; and • Continuing to investigate ways to make Virginia's college campuses safer and reduce violence of 86 all kinds, to include sexual assault on campuses.
Four Subcommittees were formed to undertake these responsibilities: Protective Order Enhancement and Implementation, Enhancing Campus Safety, Improving Services to Children and Youth, and Expanding Services to Older Victims and Victims with Disabilities and Mental Illness. From these subcommittees, a total of fourteen recommendations were offered by the full Advisory Board for consideration by Governor McDonnell’s Administration. A final report of the Advisory Board's activities and an overview of the final recommendations will be submitted to the Governor no later than December 1, 2012.
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Legislative Update 2012
Protective Orders
SB445 (Vogel)/HB1033 (McClellan) - Permanent Protective Orders - This legislation provides a circuit court jurisdiction to hear petitions to modify, dissolve, or extend a permanent protective order if the circuit court issued the order. In addition, when a protective order is issued, the court, including the circuit court, is required to enter and transfer identifying information into the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN). Effective July 1, 2013, any circuit court clerk who does not use the Statewide Case Management System operated and maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court shall provide protective orders directly to the Virginia Criminal Information Network in an electronic format approved by the Department of State Police. Until July 1, 2013, such circuit court clerks shall forthwith forward the protective order to the primary law-enforcement agency providing service and entry of protective orders for entry into the VCIN.
HB770 (Landes) - Emergency Protective Orders and Law Enforcement Officers - This legislation provides that no emergency protective order issued pursuant to Chapter 9.1 of Title 19.2 of the Code may be issued against a law-enforcement officer for any action arising out of the lawful performance of his duties. This section does not apply to protective orders issued to protect a child, based on family abuse, or issued in connection with a pending domestic relations case.
SB300 (Howell) - Revisions to Protective Order Statutes - Juveniles, Venue - This legislation makes a number of changes to the provisions governing protective orders issued by a juvenile and domestic relations district court, including (i) clarifying that only violations related to trespass, criminal offenses, acts of abuse, or prohibited contacts are Class 1 misdemeanors; (ii) clarifying that juvenile and domestic relations district courts have jurisdiction over all protective orders that involve juveniles, whether as the alleged victim or as respondent; and (iii) allowing judges to prohibit contact between the respondent and the allegedly abused person or that person's family. The legislation also clarifies venue for protective orders issued under Chapter 9.1 of Title 19.2 of the Code.
Sexual Violence
HB973 (Bell)/SB436 (Obenshain) - Enhanced Penalties for Rape, Forcible Sodomy, or Object Sexual Penetration of a Child Under 13 - Imposes a mandatory minimum life sentence for rape, forcible sodomy, or object sexual penetration of a child under the age of 13 when it is alleged in the indictment that the offender was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense.
HB969 (Bell)/SB301 (Howell) - Campus Police Inclusion in Sexual Assault Response Teams - This legislation requires Commonwealth's Attorneys to invite chiefs of campus police located within their jurisdictions to attend Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) meeting.
HB965 (Bell)/SB302 (Howell) - Campus Police; Mutual Aid Agreements with Local Law-enforcement Agencies and State Police - Requires campus police to enter into mutual aid agreements with an adjacent local law-enforcement agency or the State Police for cooperation in providing assistance with the investigation of deaths and alleged rapes occurring on college campuses.
60 Domestic Violence/Criminal Offenses
SB459 (Herring)/HB752 (Cline) - Strangulation - This legislation provides that any person who, without consent, impedes the blood circulation or respiration of another person by knowingly, intentionally, and unlawfully applying pressure to the neck of such person resulting in the wounding or bodily injury of such person is guilty of strangulation, a Class 6 felony. This bill creates a new offense for strangulation.
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Notes and References
1Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, www.vsdvalliance.org/Resources/dvdefined.html (accessed December 11, 2012). 2 “Intimate partner” has been defined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as a spouse, former spouse, current or former boyfriend or girlfriend, same-sex partner, or dating partner. Some relationships within the intimate partner classification do not fall within the statutory definition of domestic violence, where those relationships do not meet the cohabitation or child in common elements of Virginia Code § 16.1-228. 3Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia 2011 (2012). 4Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime in the United States 2011 (2012) (website) (accessed 12/11/12). 5 Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia Department of Health, October 19, 2011. 6Id. 7Id. 8 Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia Department of Health. As a number of the homicides reported in 2011 currently remain under investigation, the estimated numbers of family and intimate partner homicides may change. 9See id. 10 The 2011 Annual Report on Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia published by the Office of the Attorney General on December 31, 2011, contained homicide data for 2010 based upon the preliminary surveillance findings of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in October 2012. At that time, 383 homicides were recorded for 2010, 166 of which were attributed to family and intimate partner violence. Since publication of the 2011 Report, the 2010 data has been updated by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to reflect a total of 391 homicides in 2010, of which 170 were attributed to family and intimate partner violence. 11 Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia Department of Health, Family and Intimate Partner Homicide: A Ten-Year Review of Family and Intimate Partner Homicide in Virginia, 1999-2008, 10 (2010). 12Id. 13Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2011 (2012). For data purposes, “violent crime offenses” include murder/non-negligent manslaughter, aggravated assault, forcible sex offenses, and robbery, all involving the use or threat of force. “Family and household members” for purposes of this report include spouse, “common law” spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, in-law, stepparent, stepchild, stepsibling, ex-spouse, or other family member. “Intimate partner” or “dating partner” includes a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship or homosexual relationship. 14Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2011, v, 46 (2012). 15 Department of Criminal Justice Services, Domestic Violence in Virginia, 2006-2010: Statistical Findings from Incidents Reported by Law Enforcement, 1 (2011). In the report, DCJS defines the domestic victim-offender relationship as family(spouse, common-law spouse, ex-spouse, parent, sibling, child, child of boyfriend/girlfriend, grandparent, grandchild, in-law, stepparent, stepchild, stepsibling, and other family); intimate partner is defined as boyfriend-girlfriend and homosexual relationship. It should be noted that DCJS includes in its definition of family member the category of “child of boyfriend/girlfriend,” which has not been included in the analysis of data in this report compiled by the Office of the Attorney General. This difference in definitions results in a slight variation in the findings and analysis of the DCJS report and the analysis of data contained in this report. See Domestic Violence in Virginia at 3. 16Id. at 13. 17Id. at 4, 6. 18Id. at 8, 31. 19Id. at 4, 13. 20Id. at 14, 17. 21Id. at 18. 22Id. at 21.
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23Id. at 22. 24Id. 25Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2011 (2012). 26See Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2006 (2007); Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2007 (2008); Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2008 (2009), Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2009 (2010), Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2010 (2011). 27Department of Criminal Justice Services, Domestic Violence in Virginia, 2006-2010 12 (2011). 28 Data from the Virginia State Police (December 21, 2012). See Appendix A. Arrests for assault and battery against a family or household member include misdemeanor and felony arrests pursuant to Virginia Code § 18.2-57.2. 29Data from the Virginia State Police (December 21, 2012). See Appendix A. Conviction information is based upon disposition data available as of December 31, 2011. There were a total of 2,372 charges for which no dispositional data was available as of this date. 30Data from the Virginia State Police (December 21, 2012). See Appendix A. 31 Stalking Resource Center, The National Center for Victims of Crime, Stalking Fact Sheet, www.ncvc.org (accessed December 3, 2012). 32 Stalking does not apply to “a law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101, and acting in the performance of his official duties, and a registered private investigator, as defined in § 9.1-138, who is regulated in accordance with § 9.1-139 and acting in the course of his legitimate business.” Va. Code Ann. § 60.3(A). 33 Stalking Resource Center, The National Center for Victims of Crime, Stalking Fact Sheet, www.ncvc.org (accessed December 3, 2012) (citing Katrina Baum et al., Stalking Victimization in the United States (Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009)). 34 Data from the Virginia State Police (December 21, 2012). The conviction data includes arrests for misdemeanor and felony violations of the stalking statute, § 18.2-60.3. See Appendix A. 35Data from the Virginia State Police (December 21, 2012). Of the 570 non-convictions, 176 cases were dismissed, 319 were nolle prossed, and 75 resulted in a not guilty verdict. There were no dispositions recorded for 43 of the charges. See Appendix A. 36Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2011 (2012). 37Id. The number for victims under the age of 18 reflects victims in the 0-17 age range as well as victims of unknown age. 38Id. at 14. 39Virginia State Police, Crime in Virginia, 2011 (2012). 40Id. at 68-71. 41Id. at 68-69. 42Va. Code Ann. §§ 16.1-253.4, 16.1-253.1, 16.1-279.1, 19.2-152.8, 19.2-152.9, 19.2-152.10. 43 Information provided by the Virginia State Police. 44E-Magistrate reporting data provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia. 45 Information provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia. The data for preliminary and final protective orders includes family abuse and stalking/sexual battery/serious bodily injury protective orders (as collected prior to July 1, 2011). 46See Va. Code Ann. §§ 16.1-253.2. 47See Va. Code § 18.2-60.4. 48 Data from the Virginia State Police (December 17, 2012). See Appendix A. 49 As of July 1, 2011, “stalking/sexual battery/serious bodily injury protective orders” are known solely as “protective orders.” 50 Data from the Virginia State Police (December 17, 2012). As of July 1, 1997, Virginia Code § 19.2-81.3 requires law enforcement officers to arrest for violations of family abuse and stalking protective orders where probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred. Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-81.3. 51 Information from the Virginia State Police (December 17, 2012). 52 Information from the Virginia State Police (December 17, 2012). 53 K. VanAudenhove and A. Jaramillo, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, 2011 VAdata Executive Summary (2012).
63
54Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Domestic Violence Services in Virginia - VAdata Report, 2011 (2012). 55Id. 56Id. 57Id. 58Id. 59Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Sexual Violence Services in Virginia, VAdata Report, 2011(2012). 60Id. 61 Information provided by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. 62 Information provided by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. 63 Funding information provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department of Social Services, the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Division of Injury and Violence Prevention, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Family and Children’s Trust Fund (FACT). 64 Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia’s Homeless Programs, 2011-12 Program Year, A Report to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, 7, 20-21 (2012). 65 Revenue information for 2011 was not available as of the filing of this Report. 66 Revenue information for 2012 will not be available until after processing of 2012 income tax returns in 2013. 67 Information provided by the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council. 68 CASC received V-STOP funding for “Trauma to Trial” in the amount of $36,564.00 each year for CY 2012 and 2013. 69 Information provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia. 70 Information provided by the Family and Children’s Trust Fund. Additional information available at: http://www.fact.state.va.us/. 71 Information provided by the Virginia Center on Aging, Virginia Commonwealth University. 72 Information provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. 73 2010 Data is the most recent for the VSTOP program 74 Information provided by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Prevention and Health Promotion, Injury and Violence Prevention Program. 75 Information provided by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. 76 Information provided by the Virginia Department of Corrections 77Information from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. 78 Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia’s Homeless Programs, 2011-12 Program Year, A Report to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, 7, 20-21 (2012). 79 Information provided by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Violence. 80See Department of Social Services, Office of Family Violence, 2007 Annual Report (2008). 81 The Powhatan Department of Social Services received funding for a new domestic violence program to provide services to victims in Powhatan County. The James House, an existing domestic and sexual violence program, received funding for additional outreach to the underserved Counties of Prince George and Dinwiddie. 82 The 47 local programs received awards ranging from $34,000 to $229,874; the statewide coalition (the Virginia and Sexual Violence Action Alliance) received an award of $633,914. 83 Information provided by the Virginia Department of State Police. 84 Information provided by the Virginia Poverty Law Center. 85 Information provided by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. 86Executive Order 44 (2012).
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Appendix A - Additional Data
A-1
Table A-1: Arrests and Case Dispositions for Misdemeanor Violations of Family Abuse Protective Orders, 2003-2011 CONVICTIONS NON-CONVICTIONS Felony/ Total Adjudicate Total Non Nolle Mentall Code Misdemeano Arrest d Conviction Not Prosse Dismisse y Year Section r s Guilty Delinquent s Guilty d d Insane Deferred 2003 16.1-253.2 M 2,655 1,113 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 16.1-253.2 M 2,727 1,021 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 2005 16.1-253.2 M 2,600 1,070 0 5 0 4 1 0 0 2006 16.1-253.2 M 2,706 1,083 0 16 1 6 8 0 1 2007 16.1-253.2 M 2,853 1,039 0 78 1 11 65 0 1 2008 16.1-253.2 M 2,965 1,038 0 1,092 121 603 368 0 0 2009 16.1-253.2 M 3,109 1,145 0 1,840 271 1,034 535 0 0 2010 16.1-253.2 M 3,036 1,158 0 1,645 228 1,014 403 0 0 2011 16.1-253.2 M 3,083 1,201 0 1,713 235 1,008 469 1 0
Table A-2: Arrests and Case Dispositions for Felony Violations of Family Abuse Protective Orders (Third or Subsequent Offense Within 20 Years), 2004-2011 CONVICTIONS NON-CONVICTIONS Felony/ Total Adjudicate Total Non Nolle Mentall Code Misdemeano Arrest d Conviction Not Prosse Dismisse y Deferred or Year Section r s Guilty Delinquent s Guilty d d Insane Other 2004 16.1-253.2 F 75 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 16.1-253.2 F 210 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 16.1-253.2 F 232 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 16.1-253.2 F 267 18 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2008 16.1-253.2 F 282 26 0 60 0 47 12 1 0 2009 16.1-253.2 F 322 32 0 114 6 59 49 0 0 2010 16.1-253.2 F 265 106 0 146 8 103 34 0 1 2011 16.1-253.2 F 245 103 0 127 6 92 29 0 0
A-2 Table A-3: Arrests and Case Dispositions for Misdemeanor Assault and Battery Against Family or Household Member, 2003-2011 CONVICTIONS NON-CONVICTIONS Felony/ Total Adjudicate Total Non Nolle Mentall Code Misdemeano Arrest d Conviction Not Prosse Dismisse y Year Section r s Guilty Delinquent s Guilty d d Insane Deferred 2003 18.2-57.2 M 21,943 6,875 29 2,010 20 35 1,807 0 148 2004 18.2-57.2 M 22,099 6,755 29 2,374 16 31 2,167 0 160 2005 18.2-57.2 M 22,463 6,661 18 2,740 15 48 2,475 0 202 2006 18.2-57.2 M 22,099 6,818 15 3,992 26 97 3,713 0 156 2007 18.2-57.2 M 22,473 6,540 15 4,862 22 163 4,499 0 178 2008 18.2-57.2 M 22,993 6,174 10 12,951 1,164 4,836 5,720 1 1,230 2009 18.2-57.2 M 23,031 5,387 4 16,919 1,959 7,298 4,716 0 2,946 2010 18.2-57.2 M 22,816 4,608 2 15,719 1,715 6,639 4,322 1 3,042 2011 18.2-57.2 M 21,244 4,550 4 16,392 1,662 7,104 4,483 0 3,143
Table A-4: Arrests and Case Dispositions for Felony Assault and Battery Against Family or Household Member, 2003-2011 CONVICTIONS NON-CONVICTIONS Felony/ Total Adjudicate Total Non Nolle Mentall Code Misdemeano Arrest d Conviction Not Prosse Dismisse y Deferred or Year Section r s Guilty Delinquent s Guilty d d Insane Other 2003 18.2-57.2 F 1,038 196 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 2004 18.2-57.2 F 1,166 225 2 7 0 1 4 0 2 2005 18.2-57.2 F 1,293 210 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2006 18.2-57.2 F 1,224 215 0 4 0 2 2 0 0 2007 18.2-57.2 F 1,177 205 0 14 2 9 3 0 0 2008 18.2-57.2 F 1,136 208 0 343 22 225 94 2 0 2009 18.2-57.2 F 1,161 211 0 537 37 308 191 0 1 2010 18.2-57.2 F 1,162 571 0 556 37 313 197 0 9 2011 18.2-57.2 F 1,142 842 1 703 51 349 256 0 47
2003 18.2-57.2(B) F 72 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 18.2-57.2(B) F 58 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 18.2-57.2(B) F 59 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 18.2-57.2(B) F 86 43 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 18.2-57.2(B) F 100 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2008 18.2-57.2(B) F 64 14 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2009 18.2-57.2(B) F 72 8 0 2 0 2 0 0 0
A-3 2010 18.2-57.2(B) F 94 39 0 51 1 30 20 0 0 2011 18.2-57.2(B) F 171 11 0 3 0 2 1 0 0
Table A-5: Arrests and Case Dispositions for Misdemeanor Stalking, 2003-2011 CONVICTIONS NON-CONVICTIONS Felony/ Total Adjudicate Total Non Nolle Mentall Code Misdemeano Arrest d Conviction Not Prosse Dismisse y Year Section r s Guilty Delinquent s Guilty d d Insane Deferred 2003 18.2-60.3 M 1,017 190 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 2004 18.2-60.3 M 1,025 168 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2005 18.2-60.3 M 910 192 0 4 0 1 3 0 0 2006 18.2-60.3 M 881 169 0 8 0 5 3 0 0 2007 18.2-60.3 M 921 193 0 63 3 9 51 0 0 2008 18.2-60.3 M 900 158 0 459 54 202 201 2 0 2009 18.2-60.3 M 991 195 0 741 90 364 287 0 0 2010 18.2-60.3 M 934 202 0 684 72 362 249 1 0 2011 18.2-60.3 M 783 136 0 568 75 317 176 0 0
Table A:6: Arrests and Case Dispositions for Felony Stalking (Third or Subsequent Offense Within 5 Years), 2003-2011 CONVICTIONS NON-CONVICTIONS Felony/ Total Adjudicate Total Non Nolle Mentall Code Misdemeano Arrest d Conviction Not Prosse Dismisse y Year Section r s Guilty Delinquent s Guilty d d Insane Deferred 2003 18.2-60.3 F 27 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 18.2-60.3 F 26 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 18.2-60.3 F 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 18.2-60.3 F 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 18.2-60.3 F 12 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 2008 18.2-60.3 F 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2009 18.2-60.3 F 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2010 18.2-60.3 F 9 2 0 7 0 3 4 0 0 2011 18.2-60.3 F 4 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0
A-4
Table A-7: Arrests and Case Dispositions for Misdemeanor Violation of Stalking Protective Order, 2003-2011 CONVICTIONS NON-CONVICTIONS Felony/ Total Adjudicate Total Non Nolle Mentall Code Misdemeano Arrest d Conviction Not Prosse Dismisse y Year Section r s Guilty Delinquent s Guilty d d Insane Deferred 2003 18.2-60.4 M 61 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 18.2-60.4 M 100 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 18.2-60.4 M 99 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 18.2-60.4 M 95 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 18.2-60.4 M 98 41 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2008 18.2-60.4 M 86 39 0 24 4 13 7 0 0 2009 18.2-60.4 M 135 51 0 80 25 33 22 0 0 2010 18.2-60.4 M 91 34 0 56 12 22 22 0 0 2011 18.2-60.4 M 302 93 0 178 25 91 62 0 0
Data provided by the Virginia State Police (December 21, 2012) *2003 data not provided for felony violations of protective orders
A-5
Appendix B - State Agencies and Organizations
Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services William &Mary Law School, Room 220 1100 Bank Street 613 South Henry Street Richmond, VA23219 P.O. Box 3549 (804) 786-4000 Williamsburg, VA23187 www.dcjs.virginia.gov (757) 253-4146 www.cas.state.va.us Virginia Department of Health Division of Prevention and Health Promotion Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia (FACT) 109 Governor Street, 8th Floor 801 East Main Street, 15th Floor Richmond, VA23219 Richmond, VA23219 (804) 864-7732 (804) 726-7604 Injury Hotline: 1-800-732-8333 www.fact.state.va.us www.vahealth.org/civp
Office of the Attorney General Virginia Department of Health 900 East Main Street Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Richmond, VA23219 400 East Jackson Street (804) 786-2071 Richmond, VA23219 www.oag.state.va.us (804) 786-3174 www.vdh.virginia.gov/medexam Supreme Court of Virginia Office of the Executive Secretary Virginia Department of Housing 100 North 9th Street, 3rd Floor and Community Development Richmond, VA 23219 600 East Main Street, Suite 300 (804) 786-6455 Richmond, VA23219 www.courts.state.va.us (804) 371-7000 www.dhcd.virginia.gov Virginia Center on Aging Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Department of Social Services 730 East Broad Street Office on Family Violence P.O. Box 980229 801 East Main Street Richmond, VA23298 Richmond, VA23219 (804)828-1525 (804) 726-7000 www.vcu.edu/vcoa www.dss.virginia.gov
Virginia Department for the Aging Virginia Department of State Police 1610 Forest Avenue, Suite 100 P.O. Box 27472 Richmond, VA23229 Richmond, VA23261-7472 (804) 662-9333 (804) 674-2000 www.vda.virginia.gov www.vsp.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Virginia Poverty Law Center Development Services 700 East Main Street, Suite 1410 Richmond, VA23219 (804) 782-9430 www.vplc.org www.dbhds.virginia.gov Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance Virginia Department of Corrections, 5008 Monument Ave, Suite A Community Corrections Richmond, VA23230 P.O. Box 26963 (804) 377-0335 Richmond, VA23261-6963 www.vsdvalliance.org (804) 674-3000 www.vadoc.state.va.us/community
B-1
Appendix C - Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Programs by Locality
Programs Serving both Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims are in Italics
Programs Serving both Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims are in Italics
Accomack County Total Action Against Poverty Women's Resource Center Center for Sexual Assault Survivors P.O. Box 2868 11030 Warwick Blvd. Roanoke, VA24001-2868 Newport News, VA23601 540-345-6781 757-599-9844 www.tapintohope.org www.visitthecenter.org Amherst County Eastern Shore Coalition Against Domestic Violence P.O. Box 3 Sexual Assault Response Program Onancock, VA23417-0003 Crisis Line of Central Virginia 877-787-1329 P.O. Box 3074 www.esva.net/~escadv Lynchburg, VA24503 434-947-7422 Albemarle County 434-947-RAPE (7273) www.crisislineofcentralvirginia.org Sexual Assault Resource Agency P.O. Box 6880 YWCA Domestic Violence Prevention Center Charlottesville, VA22906 626 Church Street 434-295-7273 Lynchburg, VA24504 434-977-7273 (hotline) 888-528-1041 www.sexualassaultresources.org www.lynchburgywca.org
Shelter for Help in Emergency Appomattox County P.O. Box 3013 Charlottesville, VA22903-0013 Sexual Assault Response Program 434-293-8509 (hotline) Crisis Line of Central Virginia www.shelterforhelpinemergency.org P.O. Box 3074 Lynchburg, VA24503 Alexandria 434-947-7422 434-947-RAPE (7273) Alexandria Domestic Violence Program www.crisislineofcentralvirginia.org 421 King Street, Suite 400 Alexandria, VA22314 YWCA Domestic Violence Prevention Center 703-838-4911 626 Church Street www.alexandriava.gov/women/ Lynchburg, VA24504 888-528-1041 Sexual Assault Response and Awareness www.lynchburgywca.org 421 King Street, Suite 400 Alexandria, VA22314 Arlington County 703-683-7273 (hotline) www.alexandriava.gov/women/ Doorways for Women and Families P.O. Box100185 Allegheny County Arlington, VA22210 703-237-0881 Safehome Systems www.doorwaysva.org P.O. Box 748 Covington, VA24426 540-965-3237 http://safehome24426.tripod.com
C-1 Bethany House For Battered Spouses Botetourt County 6121 Lincolnia Road, Suite 303 Alexandria, VA22312 Sexual Assault Response and Awareness 703-658-3555 611 McDowell Avenue NW www.bhnv.org Roanoke, VA24016 540-345-7273 Augusta County www.sararoanoke.org
New Directions Center, Inc. Total Action Against Poverty P.O. Box 3069 Women's Resource Center Staunton, VA24402-3069 P.O. Box 2868 800-56-HAVEN (42836) Roanoke, VA24001-2868 www.newdirectionscenter.com 540-345-6781 Toll Free: 800-915-8164 Bath County www.tapintohope.org
Safehome Systems, Inc. Turning Point (The Salvation Army) P.O. Box 748 815 Salem Avenue SW Covington, VA24426 Roanoke, VA24016 540-965-3237 540-345-0400 Toll Free: 877-393-3672 http://safehome24426.tripod.com Bristol
Bedford County Abuse Alternatives, Inc. 104 Memorial Drive Bedford Domestic Violence Services Bristol, TN37620 P.O. Box 783 423-652-9093 Bedford, VA24523 Toll Free: 800-987-6499 540-587-0970 www.abusealternativesinc.org www.co.bedford.va.us Crisis Center Sexual Assault Response Program P.O. Box 642 Crisis Line of Central Virginia Bristol, VA24203 P.O. Box 3074 Line 1: 276-466-2312 Lynchburg, VA24503 Line 2: 276-628-7731 434-947-7422 www.crisiscenterinc.org 434-947-RAPE (7273) www.crisislineofcentralvirginia.org Brunswick County
Turning Point (The Salvation Army) Family Violence/Sexual Assault 815 Salem Avenue SW Prevention Program Roanoke, VA24016 420 South Main Street 540-345-0400 Emporia, VA23847 800-838-8238 YWCA Domestic Violence Prevention Center 626 Church Street Buchanan County Lynchburg, VA24504 888-528-1041 Family Crisis Support Services www.lynchburgywca.org P.O. Box 692 Norton, VA24273 Bland County 800-877-3416 www.family-crisis.com Family Resource Center, Inc. P.O. Box 612 Hope House of Scott County Wytheville, VA24383-0612 P.O. Box 1992 800-613-6145 Gate City, VA24251 www.frc-inc.org 888-250-4325 www.hopehousescottcounty.org
C-2 People, Incorporated of VA Charlotte County Domestic and Sexual Violence Program 1173 W. Main Street Sexual Assault Response Program Abingdon, VA24210 Crisis Line of Central Virginia 276-623-9000 P.O. Box 3074 877-697-9444 Lynchburg, VA24503 http://peopleinc.net 434-947-7422 434-947-RAPE (7273) Buena Vista www.crisislineofcentralvirginia.org
Project Horizon Tri-County Community Action Agency 120 Varner Lane PO Box 799 Lexington, VA24450 South Boston, VA24592 540-463-2594 434-575-7916 www.projecthorizon.net www.tricountycaa.com
Campbell County Charlottesville
Sexual Assault Response Program Sexual Assault Resource Agency Crisis Line of Central Virginia P.O. Box 6880 P.O. Box 3074 Charlottesville, VA22906 Lynchburg, VA24503 434-295-7273 434-947-7422 434-977-7273 (hotline) 434-947-RAPE (7273) www.sexualassaultresources.org www.crisislineofcentralvirginia.org Shelter for Help in Emergency YWCA Domestic Violence Prevention Center P.O. Box 3013 626 Church Street Charlottesville, VA22903-0013 Lynchburg, VA24504 434-293-8509 (hotline) 888-528-1041 www.shelterforhelpinemergency.org www.lynchburgywca.org Chesapeake Caroline County Help and Emergency Response Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault P.O. Box 2187 P.O. Box 1276 Portsmouth, VA23702-0187 Fredericksburg, VA22402 757-485-1445 540-371-1666 757-485-3384 (hotline) www.rcasa.org www.hershelter.com
Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence Response Sexual Assault Support P.O. Box 1007 Services of the YWCA Fredericksburg, VA22402 5215 Colley Ave 540-373-9373 Norfolk, VA23510-1220 Toll Free: 877-734-7238 757-622-4300 www.rcdv.com www.ywca-shr.org
Carroll County Samaritan House P.O. Box 2400, #226 Family Resource Center, Inc. Virginia Beach, VA23450-2400 P.O. Box 612 757-430-2120 PALS Wytheville, VA24383-0612 757-631-0710 800-613-6145 www.samaritanhouseva.org www.frc-inc.org Chesterfield County Charles City County Chesterfield County Domestic Violence Project Hope at Quin Rivers Resource Center 104 Roxbury Industrial Center P.O. Box 40 Charles City, VA23030 Chesterfield, VA23832-0040 804-966-5020 804-768-4783 877-966-HELP (4357) (hotline) www.chesterfield.gov www.quinrivers.org
C-3 SafeHarbor Culpeper County P.O. Box 17996 Richmond, VA23226 Services to Abused Families 804-249-9470 P.O. Box 402 www.SafeHarborShelter.com Culpeper, VA22701-0402 Toll Free: 800-825-8876 YWCA of Richmond http://www.safejourneys.org Women's Advocacy Program 6 North 5th Street Danville Richmond, VA23219 804-643-0888 (hotline) YWCA of Central Virginia www.ywcarichmond.org Domestic Violence Prevention Center 626 Church Street Clarke County Lynchburg, VA24504 888-528-1041 The Laurel Center www.lynchburgywca.org P.O. Box 14 Winchester, VA22604 Dinwiddie Office: 540-667-6160 24 Hour Hotline: 540-667-6466 The James House www.thelaurelcenter.org 1016 Maplewood Ave Hopewell, VA23860 Clifton Forge 804-458-2840 www.thejameshouse.org Safehome Systems P.O. Box 748 Emporia Covington, VA24426 540-965-3237 Family Violence/Sexual Assault Prevention Program Toll Free: 877-393-3672 420 South Main Street http://safehome24426.tripod.com Emporia, VA23847 434-838-8238 Total Action Against Poverty Women's Resource Center Essex County P.O. Box 2868 Roanoke, VA24001-2868 Haven Shelter and Services, Inc. 540-345-6781 P.O. Box 1267 Toll Free: 800-915-8164 Warsaw, VA22572-0713 www.tapintohope.org 800-224-2836 www.havenshelter.org Covington Fairfax Safehome Systems P.O. Box 748 Fairfax Office for Women Covington, VA24426 Domestic and Sexual Violence Services 540-965-3237 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 339 Toll Free: 877-393-3672 Fairfax, VA22035 http://safehome24426.tripod.com 703-360-7273 http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/OFW/ Craig County Fairfax County Sexual Assault Response and Awareness 611 McDowell Avenue NW Fairfax Office for Women Roanoke, VA24016 Domestic and Sexual Violence Services 540-345-7273 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 339 www.sararoanoke.org Fairfax, VA22035 703-360-7273 Total Action Against Poverty http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/OFW/ Women's Resource Center P.O. Box 2868 Roanoke, VA24001-2868 540-345-6781 Toll Free: 800-915-8164 www.tapintohope.org
C-4 Falls Church Franklin County
Fairfax Office for Women Franklin County Family Resource Center Domestic and Sexual Violence Services P.O. Box 188 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 339 Rocky Mount, VA24151-0188 Fairfax, VA22035 540-483-1234 703-360-7273 www.franklincountyva.org/shelter http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/OFW/ Frederick County Fauquier County The Laurel Center Services to Abused Families P.O. Box 14 P.O. Box 402 Winchester, VA22604 Culpeper, VA22701-0402 Office: 540-667-6160 Toll Free: 800-825-8876 24 Hour Hotline: 540-667-6466 http://www.safejourneys.org www.thelaurelcenter.org
Fauquier Domestic Violence Services Fredericksburg P.O. Box 3599 Warrenton, VA20188 Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault 540-349-2719 P.O. Box 1276 540-349-3879 (Crisis Line) Fredericksburg, VA22402 www.fdvs.org 540-371-1666 www.rcasa.org Floyd County Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley P.O. Box 1007 P.O. Box 477 Fredericksburg, VA22402 Radford, VA24143 540-373-9373 800-788-1123 Toll Free: 877-734-7238 www.wrcnrv.org www.rcdv.com
Fluvanna County Front Royal
Sexual Assault Resource Agency Harmony Place P.O. Box 6880 P.O. Box 1831 Charlottesville, VA22906 Front Royal, VA22630-1831 434-295-7273 540-635-9194 434-977-7273 (hotline) 540-635-9062 (hotline) www.sexualassaultresources.org www.harmonyplace.org
Shelter for Help in Emergency Galax P.O. Box 3013 Charlottesville, VA22903-0013 Family Resource Center, Inc. 434-293-8509 (hotline) P.O. Box 612 www.shelterforhelpinemergency.org Wytheville, VA24383-0612 800-613-6145 Franklin www.frc-inc.org
The Genieve Shelter Giles County P.O. Box 1585 Suffolk, VA23439 Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley 800-969-4673 P.O. Box 477 http://home.earthlink.net/~genieve88/ Radford, VA24143 800-788-1123 Response Sexual Assault Support www.wrcnrv.org Services of the YWCA 5215 Colley Ave Norfolk, VA23510-1220 757-622-4300 www.ywca-shr.org
C-5 Gloucester County Transitions Family Violence Services P.O. Box 561 Laurel Shelter, Inc. Hampton, VA23669-0561 P.O. Box 23 757-722-2261 Gloucester, VA23061-0023 757-723-7774 (hotline) 804-694-5890 www.transitionsfvs.org www.laurelshelterinc.org Hanover County Goochland County Hanover Safe Place YWCA of Richmond Ashland, VA23005 Women's Advocacy Program Toll Free: 888-370-SAFE (7233) 6 North 5th Street Local Hotline: 804-752-2702 Richmond, VA23219 www.hanoversafeplace.com 804-643-0888 (hotline) www.ywcarichmond.org SafeHarbor P.O. Box 17996 Grayson County Richmond, VA23226 804-249-9470 Family Resource Center, Inc. www.SafeHarborShelter.com P.O. Box 612 Wytheville, VA24383-0612 YWCA of Richmond 800-613-6145 Women's Advocacy Program www.frc-inc.org 6 North 5th Street Richmond, VA23219 Greene County 804-643-0888 (hotline) www.ywcarichmond.org Sexual Assault Resource Agency P.O. Box 6880 Harrisonburg Charlottesville, VA22906 434-295-7273 The Collins Center 434-977-7273 (hotline) P.O. Box 1473 www.sexualassaultresources.org Harrisonburg, VA22803 540-434-2275 Shelter for Help in Emergency www.thecollinscenter.org P.O. Box 3013 Charlottesville, VA22903-0013 First Step 434-293-8509 (hotline) Harrisonburg www.shelterforhelpinemergency.org 540-434-0295 Toll Free: 800-578-3433 Greensville County Henrico County Family Violence/Sexual Assault Prevention Program 420 South Main Street SafeHarbor Emporia, VA23847 P.O. Box 17996 434-348-0100 Richmond, VA23226 804-249-9470 Halifax County www.SafeHarborShelter.com
Tri-County Community Action Agency YWCA of Richmond P.O. Box 799 Women's Advocacy Program South Boston, VA24592 6 North 5th Street 434-575-7916 Richmond, VA23219 www.tricountycaa.com 804-643-0888 (hotline) www.ywcarichmond.org Hampton Henry County Center for Sexual Assault Survivors 11030 Warwick Blvd. Citizens Against Family Violence Newport News, VA23601 P.O. Box 352 757-599-9844 Martinsville, VA24114-0352 www.visitthecenter.org 276-632-8701 www.cafv.info
C-6 Hopewell King George County
The James House Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault 1016 Maplewood Ave P.O. Box 1276 Hopewell, VA23860 Fredericksburg, VA22402 804-458-2840 540-371-1666 www.thejameshouse.org www.rcasa.org
YWCA Women's Advocacy Program Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence YWCA of Richmond P.O. Box 1007 6 North 5th Street Fredericksburg, VA22402 Richmond, VA23219 540-373-9373 804-643-0888 (hotline) Toll Free: 877-734-7238 www.ywcarichmond.org www.rcdv.com
Isle of Wight County King William County
Center for Sexual Assault Survivors Laurel Shelter, Inc. 11030 Warwick Blvd. P.O. Box 23 Newport News, VA23601 Gloucester, VA23061-0023 757-599-9844 804-694-5890 www.visitthecenter.org www.laurelshelterinc.org
The Genieve Shelter Project Hope at Quin Rivers P.O. Box 1585 104 Roxbury Industrial Center Suffolk, VA Charles City, VA23030 800-969-4673 804-966-5020 http://home.earthlink.net/~genieve88/ 877-966-HELP (4357) (hotline) www.quinrivers.org Response Sexual Assault Support Services of the YWCA Lancaster County 5215 Colley Ave Norfolk, VA23510-1220 Haven Shelter and Services, Inc. 757-622-4300 P.O. Box 1267 www.ywca-shr.org Warsaw, VA22572-0713 800-224-2836 James City County www.havenshelter.org
Avalon: A Center For Women And Children Lee County P.O. Box 1079 Williamsburg, VA23187-1079 Family Crisis Support Services 757-258-5051 (hotline) P.O. Box 692 www.avaloncenter.org Norton, VA24273 800-877-3416 King and Queen County www.family-crisis.com
Laurel Shelter, Inc. Hope House of Scott County P.O. Box 23 P.O. Box 1992 Gloucester, VA23061-0023 Gate City, VA24251 804-694-5890 888-250-4325 www.laurelshelterinc.org www.hopehousescottcounty.org
Project Hope at Quin Rivers Leesburg 104 Roxbury Industrial Center Charles City, VA23030 Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter (LAWS) 804-966-5020 105 East Market Street 877-966-HELP (4357) (hotline) Leesburg, Virginia20176 www.quinrivers.org 703-777-6552 www.lcsj.org
C-7 Lexington YWCA of Central Virginia Domestic Violence Prevention Center Project Horizon 626 Church Street 120 Varner Lane Lynchburg, VA24504 Lexington, VA24450 888-528-1041 540-463-2594 www.lynchburgywca.org www.projecthorizon.net Madison County Total Action Against Poverty Women's ResourceCenter Services to Abused Families P.O. Box 2868 P.O. Box 402 Roanoke, VA24001-2868 Culpeper, VA22701-0402 540-345-6781 Toll Free: 800-825-8876 Toll Free: 800-915-8164 http://www.safejourneys.org www.tapintohope.org Manassas Loudoun County ACTS/Turning Points Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter (LAWS) P.O. Box 74 105 East Market Street Dumfries, VA22026-0074 Leesburg, Virginia20176 703-221-4460 703-777-6552 703-368-4141 (hotline) www.lcsj.org www.actspwc.org
Louisa County Sexual Assault Victims Advocacy Service (SAVAS) P.O. Box 4783 Sexual Assault Resource Agency Woodbridge, VA22194 P.O. Box 6880 703-368-4141 (hotline) Charlottesville, VA22906 www.savasofpwc.org 434-295-7273 434-977-7273 (hotline) Manassas Park www.sexualassaultresources.org ACTS/Turning Points Shelter for Help in Emergency P.O. Box 74 P.O. Box 3013 Dumfries, VA22026-0074 Charlottesville, VA22903-0013 703-221-4460 434-293-8509 (hotline) 703-368-4141 (hotline) www.shelterforhelpinemergency.org www.actspwc.org
Lunenburg County Sexual Assault Victims Advocacy Service (SAVAS) P.O. Box 4783 Madeline's House Woodbridge, VA22194 (Southside Center for Violence Prevention) 703-368-4141 (hotline) P.O. Box 563 www.savasofpwc.org Farmville, VA23901 434-292-1077 Martinsville 888-819-2926 (hotline) www.madelineshouse.net Citizens Against Family Violence P.O. Box 352 Lynchburg Martinsville, VA24114-0352 276-632-8701 Sexual Assault Response Program www.cafv.info Crisis Line of Central Virginia P.O. Box 3074 Mathews County Lynchburg, VA24503 434-947-7422 Laurel Shelter, Inc. 434-947-RAPE (7273) P.O. Box 23 www.crisislineofcentralvirginia.org Gloucester, VA23061-0023 804-694-5890 www.laurelshelterinc.org
C-8 Mecklenburg County Newport News
Madeline's House Center for Sexual Assault Survivors (Southside Center for Violence Prevention) 11030 Warwick Blvd. P.O. Box 563 Newport News, VA23601 Farmville, VA23901 757-599-9844 434-292-1077 www.visitthecenter.org 888-819-2926 (hotline) www.madelineshouse.net Transitions Family Violence Services P.O. Box 561 Middlesex County Hampton, VA23669-0561 757-722-2261 Laurel Shelter, Inc. 757-723-7774 (hotline) P.O. Box 23 www.transitionsfvs.org Gloucester, VA23061-0023 804-694-5890 Norfolk www.laurelshelterinc.org Help and Emergency Response Montgomery County P.O. Box 2187 Portsmouth, VA23702-0187 Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley 757-485-1445 P.O. Box 477 757-485-3384 (hotline) Radford, VA24143 www.hershelter.com 800-788-1123 www.wrcnrv.org Response Sexual Assault Support Services of the YWCA Nelson County 5215 Colley Ave Norfolk, VA23510-1220 Sexual Assault Response Program 757-622-4300 Crisis Line of Central Virginia www.ywca-shr.org P.O. Box 3074 Lynchburg, VA24503 Samaritan House 434-947-7422 P.O. Box 2400, #226 434-947-RAPE (7273) Virginia Beach, VA23450-2400 www.crisislineofcentralvirginia.org 757-430-2120 PALS 757-631-0710 Sexual Assault Resource Agency www.samaritanhouseva.org P.O. Box 6880 Charlottesville, VA22906 YWCA of Southampton Roads 434-295-7273 Women In Crisis Program 434-977-7273 (hotline) 5215 Colley Avenue www.sexualassaultresources.org Norfolk, VA23508 757-625-4248 Shelter for Help in Emergency 757-625-5570 – hotline P.O. Box 3013 [email protected] Charlottesville, VA22903-0013 434-293-8509 (hotline) Northampton County www.shelterforhelpinemergency.org Center for Sexual Assault Survivors New Kent County 11030 Warwick Blvd. Newport News, VA23601 Project Hope at Quin Rivers 757-599-9844 104 Roxbury Industrial Center www.visitthecenter.org Charles City, VA23030 804-966-5020 Eastern Shore Coalition Against Domestic Violence 877-966-HELP (4357) (hotline) P.O. Box 3 www.quinrivers.org Onancock, VA23417-0003 877-787-1329 www.esva.net/~escadv
C-9 Northumberland County Patrick County
Haven Shelter and Services, Inc. Citizens Against Family Violence P.O. Box 1267 P.O. Box 352 Warsaw, VA22572-0713 Martinsville, VA24114-0352 800-224-2836 276-632-8701 www.havenshelter.org www.cafv.info
Norton Petersburg
Crisis Center The James House P.O. Box 642 1016 Maplewood Ave Bristol, VA24203 Hopewell, VA23860 Line 1: 276-466-2312 804-458-2840 Line 2: 276-628-7731 www.thejameshouse.org www.crisiscenterinc.org Family Crisis Support Services YWCA of Richmond P.O. Box 692 Women's Advocacy Program Norton, VA24273 6 North 5th Street 800-877-3416 Richmond, VA23219 www.family-crisis.com 804-643-0888 (hotline) www.ywcarichmond.org Hope House of Scott County P.O. Box 1992 Pittsylvania County Gate City, VA24251 888-250-4325 YWCA of Central Virginia www.hopehousescottcounty.org Domestic Violence Prevention Center 626 Church Street Nottoway County Lynchburg, VA24504 888-528-1041 Madeline's House www.lynchburgywca.org (Southside Center for Violence Prevention) P.O. Box 563 Poquoson Farmville, VA23901 434-292-1077 Center for Sexual Assault Survivors 888-819-2926 (hotline) 11030 Warwick Blvd. www.madelineshouse.net Newport News, VA23601 757-599-9848 Onancock www.visitthecenter.org
Eastern Shore Coalition Against Domestic Violence Transitions Family Violence Services P.O. Box 3 P.O. Box 561 Onancock, VA23417-0003 Hampton, VA23669-0561 877-787-1329 757-722-2261 www.esva.net/~escadv 757-723-7774 (hotline) www.transitionsfvs.org Orange County Portsmouth Services to Abused Families P.O. Box 402 Help and Emergency Response Culpeper, VA22701-0402 P.O. Box 2187 Toll Free: 800-825-8876 Portsmouth, VA23702-0187 http://www.safejourneys.org 757-485-1445 757-485-3384 (hotline) Page County www.hershelter.com
CHOICES Council on Domestic Violence for Page County Response Sexual Assault Support 216 W. Main Street Services of the YWCA Luray, VA22835 5215 Colley Ave 540-743-4414 Norfolk, VA23510-1220 www.choicesofpagecounty.org 757-622-4300 www.ywca-shr.org
C-10 Samaritan House Radford P.O. Box 2400, #226 Virginia Beach, VA23450-2400 Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley 757-430-2120 PALS P.O. Box 477 757-631-0710 Radford, VA24143 www.samaritanhouseva.org 800-788-1123 www.wrcnrv.org YWCA of Southampton Roads Women In Crisis Program Rappahannock County 5215 Colley Avenue Norfolk, VA23508 Services to Abused Families 757-625-4248 P.O. Box 402 757-625-5570 – hotline Culpeper, VA22701-0402 www.ywca-shr.org Toll Free: 800-825-8876 http://www.safejourneys.org Powhatan County Richmond Powhatan Department of Social Services 3908 Old Buckingham Road, Suite 2 SafeHarbor Powhatan, VA23139 P.O. Box 17996 804-598-5630 Richmond, VA23226 804-249-9470 YWCA of Richmond www.SafeHarborShelter.com Women's Advocacy Program 6 North 5th Street YWCA of Richmond Richmond, VA23219 6 North 5th Street 804-643-0888 (hotline) Richmond, VA23219 www.ywcarichmond.org 804-643-0888 (hotline) www.ywcarichmond.org Prince Edward County Richmond County Madeline's House (Southside Center for Violence Prevention) Haven Shelter and Services, Inc. P.O. Box 563 P.O. Box 1267 Farmville, VA23901 Warsaw, VA22572-0713 434-292-1077 800-224-2836 888-819-2926 (hotline) www.havenshelter.org www.madelineshouse.net Roanoke Prince William County Sexual Assault Response and Awareness ACTS/Turning Points 611 McDowell Avenue NW P.O. Box 74 Roanoke, VA24016 Dumfries, VA22026-0074 540-345-7273 703-221-4460 www.sararoanoke.org 703-368-4141 (hotline) www.actspwc.org Total Action Against Poverty Women's Resource Center Sexual Assault Victims Advocacy Service (SAVAS) P.O. Box 2868 P.O. Box 4783 Roanoke, VA24001-2868 Woodbridge, VA22194 540-345-6781 703-368-4141 (hotline) Toll Free: 800-915-8164 www.savasofpwc.org www.tapintohope.org
Pulaski County Turning Point (The Salvation Army) 815 Salem Avenue SW Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley Roanoke, VA24016 P.O. Box 477 540-345-0400 Radford, VA24143 800-788-1123 www.wrcnrv.org
C-11 Roanoke County Rocky Mount
Sexual Assault Response and Awareness Franklin County Family Resource Center 611 McDowell Avenue NW P.O. Box 188 Roanoke, VA24016 Rocky Mount, VA24151-0188 540-345-7273 540-483-5088 www.sararoanoke.org 540-483-1234 (hotline) www.franklincountyva.org/shelter Sexual Assault Response Program Crisis Line of Central Virginia Turning Point (The Salvation Army) P.O. Box 3074 815 Salem Avenue SW Lynchburg, VA24503 Roanoke, VA24016 434-947-7422 540-345-0400 434-947-RAPE (7273) www.crisislineofcentralvirginia.org Russell County
Total Action Against Poverty Family Crisis Support Services Women's Resource Center P.O. Box 692 P.O. Box 2868 Norton, VA24273 Roanoke, VA24001-2868 800-877-3416 540-345-6781 www.family-crisis.com Toll Free: 800-915-8164 www.tapintohope.org Hope House of Scott County P.O. Box 1992 Turning Point (The Salvation Army) Gate City, VA24251 815 Salem Avenue SW 888-250-4325 Roanoke, VA24016 www.hopehousescottcounty.org 540-345-0400 People, Incorporated of VA Rockbridge County Domestic and Sexual Violence Program 1173 W. Main Street Project Horizon Abingdon, VA24210 120 Varner Lane 276-623-9000 Lexington, VA24450 877-697-9444 540-463-2594 http://peopleinc.net www.projecthorizon.net Salem Total Action Against Poverty Women's Resource Center Sexual Assault Response and Awareness P.O. Box 2868 611 McDowell Avenue NW Roanoke, VA24001-2868 Roanoke, VA24016 540-345-6781 540-345-7273 Toll Free: 800-915-8164 www.sararoanoke.org www.tapintohope.org Total Action Against Poverty Rockingham County Women's Resource Center P.O. Box 2868 The Collins Center Roanoke, VA24001-2868 (Formerly Citizens Against Sexual Assault) 540-345-6781 P.O. Box 1473 Toll Free: 800-915-8164 Harrisonburg, VA22803 www.tapintohope.org 540-432-6430 540-434-2275 (hotline) Turning Point (The Salvation Army) www.thecollinscenter.org 815 Salem Avenue SW Roanoke, VA24016 First Step 540-345-0400 Harrisonburg 540-434-0295 Toll Free: 800-578-3433
C-12 Scott County The Genieve Shelter P.O. Box 1585 Crisis Center Suffolk, VA23439 P.O. Box 642 800-969-4673 Bristol, VA24203 http://home.earthlink.net/~genieve88/ Line 1: 276-466-2312 Line 2: 276-628-7731 Response Sexual Assault Support www.crisiscenterinc.org Services of the YWCA 5215 Colley Ave Family Crisis Support Services Norfolk, VA23510-1220 P.O. Box 692 757-622-4300 Norton, VA24273 www.ywca-shr.org 800-877-3416 www.family-crisis.com Spotsylvania County
Hope House of Scott County Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault P.O. Box 1992 P.O. Box 1276 Gate City, VA24251 Fredericksburg, VA22402 888-250-4325 540-371-1666 www.hopehousescottcounty.org www.rcasa.org
Shenandoah Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence P.O. Box 1007 CHOICES Council on Domestic Violence for Page County Fredericksburg, VA22402 216 W. Main Street 540-373-9373 Luray, VA22835 Toll Free: 877-734-7238 540-743-4414 www.rcdv.com www.choicesofpagecounty.org Stafford County Shenandoah County Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault Response, Inc. P.O. Box 1276 P.O. Box 287 Fredericksburg, VA22402 Woodstock, VA22664-0287 540-371-1666 540-459-5161 www.rcasa.org www.response2abuse.com Empower House Smithfield P.O. Box 1007 Fredericksburg, VA22402 The Genieve Shelter 540-373-9373 P.O. Box 1585 Toll Free: 877-734-7238 Suffolk, VA23439 www.rcdv.com 800-969-4673 http://home.earthlink.net/~genieve88/ Stanley
Smyth County CHOICES Council on Domestic Violence for Page County 216 W. Main Street Family Resource Center, Inc. Luray, VA22835 P.O. Box 612 540-743-4414 Wytheville, VA24383-0612 www.choicesofpagecounty.org 800-613-6145 www.frc-inc.org Staunton
Southampton County New Directions Center, Inc. P.O. Box 3069 Center for Sexual Assault Survivors Staunton, VA24402-3069 11030 Warwick Blvd. 800-56-HAVEN (42836) Newport News, VA23601 www.newdirectionscenter.com 757-599-9844 www.visitthecenter.org
C-13 Suffolk Vinton
The Genieve Shelter Sexual Assault Response and Awareness P.O. Box 1585 611 McDowell Avenue NW Suffolk, VA23439 Roanoke, VA24016 800-969-4673 540-345-7273 http://home.earthlink.net/~genieve88/ www.sararoanoke.org
Help and Emergency Response Total Action Against Poverty P.O. Box 2187 Women's Resource Center Portsmouth, VA23702-0187 P.O. Box 2868 757-485-1445 Roanoke, VA24001-2868 757-485-3384 (hotline) 540-345-6781 www.hershelter.com Toll Free: 800-915-8164 www.tapintohope.org Response Sexual Assault Support Services of the YWCA Turning Point (The Salvation Army) 5215 Colley Ave 815 Salem Avenue SW Norfolk, VA23510-1220 Roanoke, VA24016 757-622-4300 540-345-0400 www.ywca-shr.org Virginia Beach Surry County Help and Emergency Response The Genieve Shelter P.O. Box 2187 P.O. Box 1585 Portsmouth, VA23702-0187 Suffolk, VA23439 757-485-1445 800-969-4673 757-485-3384 (hotline) http://home.earthlink.net/~genieve88/ www.hershelter.com
Sussex County Response Sexual Assault Support Services of the YWCA Family Violence/Sexual Assault Prevention Program 5215 Colley Ave 420 South Main Street Norfolk, VA23510-1220 Emporia, VA23847 757-622-4300 800-838-8238 www.ywca-shr.org
Tazewell County Samaritan House P.O. Box 2400, #226 Family Crisis Services Virginia Beach, VA P.O. Box 188 757-430-2120 PALS North Tazewell, VA24630 757-631-0710 800-390-9484 www.samaritanhouseva.org www.clinchvalleycaa.org YWCA of Southampton Roads Troutville Women In Crisis Program 5215 Colley Avenue, Turning Point (The Salvation Army) Norfolk, VA23508 815 Salem Avenue SW 757-625-4248 Roanoke, VA24016 757-625-5570 – hotline 540-345-0400 www.ywca-shr.org
Vienna Warren County
Fairfax Office for Women and Domestic Harmony Place and Sexual Violence Services P.O. Box 1831 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 339 Front Royal, VA22630-1831 Fairfax, VA 22035 540-635-9194 703-360-7273 540-635-9062 (hotline) www.fairfaxcounty.gov/OFW/ www.harmonyplace.org
C-14 Warrenton Winchester
Services to Abused Families The Laurel Center P.O. Box 402 P.O. Box 14 Culpeper, VA22701-0402 Winchester, VA22604 Toll Free: 800-825-8876 Office: 540-667-6160 www.safejourneys.org 24 Hour Hotline: 540-667-6466 www.thelaurelcenter.org Fauquier Domestic Violence Services P.O. Box 3599 Wise County Warrenton, VA20188 540-349-2719 Crisis Center 540-349-3879 (Crisis Line) P.O. Box 642 www.fdvs.org Bristol, VA24203 Line 1: 276-466-2312 Washington County Line 2: 276-628-7731 www.crisiscenterinc.org Abuse Alternatives 104 Memorial Drive Family Crisis Support Services Bristol, TN37620 P.O. Box 692 423-652-9093 Norton, VA24273 Toll Free: 800-987-6499 800-877-3416 www.abusealternativesinc.org www.family-crisis.com
Crisis Center Hope House of Scott County P.O. Box 642 P.O. Box 1992 Bristol, VA24203 Gate City, VA24251 Line 1: 276-466-2312 888-250-4325 Line 2: 276-628-7731 www.hopehousescottcounty.org www.crisiscenterinc.org Woodbridge Hope House of Scott County P.O. Box 1992 ACTS/Turning Points Gate City, VA24251 P.O. Box 74 888-250-4325 Dumfries, VA22026-0074 www.hopehousescottcounty.org 703-221-4460 703-368-4141 (hotline) Waynesboro www.actspwc.org
New Directions Center, Inc. Sexual Assault Victims Advocacy Service (SAVAS) P.O. Box 3069 P.O. Box 4783 Staunton, VA24402-3069 Woodbridge, VA22194 800-56-HAVEN (42836) 703-368-4141 (hotline) www.newdirectionscenter.com www.savasofpwc.org
Westmoreland County Wythe County
Haven Shelter and Services, Inc. Family Resource Center, Inc. P.O. Box 1267 P.O. Box 612 Warsaw, VA22572-0713 Wytheville, VA24383-0612 800-224-2836 800-613-6145 www.havenshelter.org www.frc-inc.org
Williamsburg York County
Avalon: A Center for Women and Children Avalon: A Center for Women and Children P.O. Box 1079 P.O. Box 1079 Williamsburg, VA23187-1079 Williamsburg, VA23187-1079 757-258-5051 757-258-5051 www.avaloncenter.org www.avaloncenter.org
C-15 Center for Sexual Assault Survivors Transitions Family Violence Services 11030 Warwick Blvd. P.O. Box 561 Newport News, VA23601 Hampton, VA23669-0561 757-599-9844 757-723-7774 www.visitthecenter.org www.transitionsfvs.org
(Source- Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, updated July 2012. For a current list of all accredited and non-accredited domestic and sexual violence programs, visit the Action Alliance’s website at www.vsdvalliance.org)
C-16
Appendix D - Certified Batterer Intervention Programs
ACTS/Turning Points Men’s Program Change in Action 3900 Acts lane 12884 Harbor Dr. Suite 203 P.O. Box 74 Woodbridge, VA 22192 Dumfries, VA 22026 Office: (571) 247-2652 Office: (703) 221-4460 ext. 222 Fax: Fax: (703) 221-0662 BIP Director: Laura Stokes BIP Director: Megan Purdy E-Mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.changenaction.org Website: www.actspwc.org Service area(s): Prince William, Manassas, Service area(s): Prince William, surrounding Stafford
Arlington County Dept. of Human Services Clinical Associates of Olde Towne Arlington County Abuser Intervention Services VALUE 2100 Washington Blvd. 3rd Fl. (Sequioa Plaza) 507 Court St. Arlington, VA 22204 Portsmouth, VA 23704 Office: (703) 228-1550 Office: (757) 391-2887/ 729-5113 Fax: (703) 228-1171 Fax: (757) 391-2887 BIP Director: Maurice Hendrix BIP Director(s): Dennis L. Derbaum and Teresa Strong E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Service area(s): Arlington County Service area: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Hampton-Newport News
Blue Ridge Counseling Services Commonwealth Catholic Charities Domestic Violence Alternatives Program 1512 Willow Lawn Drive 123 South Poston Street P.O. Box 6565 Marion, VA 24354 Richmond, VA 23230 Office: (276) 783-9040 Office: (804) 285-5900 Fax: (276) 782-9567 Fax: (804) 285-9130 BIP Director: David R. Boehm BIP Director: Marie Olenych E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Service area(s):Smyth, Wythe, Grayson, Carrol www.cccofva.org/services/counseling/bip.htm Service area(s): Richmond metro, Louisa, Charlottesville, Orange
Blue Ridge Counseling, LLC Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia Domestic Violence Alternatives Program 5361-A Virginia Beach Blvd. 519 Second Street Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Radford, VA 24141 Office: (757) 456-2366 ext. 502 Office: (540) 639-9040 Fax: (757) 456-2367 Fax: (540) 639-9040 BIP Director: Kathy Dial BIP Director: Keith Fender E-Mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Service area(s):Hampton Roads Service area(s): Giles, Floyd, Montgomery, Pulaski, Radford, Roanoke, Bedford, Lynchburg
C-1
Fairfax County Office of Women & Domestic and Northern Virginia Family Services Sexual Violence Services Multicultural Human Services Programs ADAPT-Anger & Domestic Abuse Prevention 6400 Arlington Blvd., Suite 110 Treatment 12000 Government Center Parkway, #339 Falls Church, VA 22042 Fairfax, VA 22035 Office: (703) 533-3302 Office: (703) 324-9497 Fax: (703) 237-2083 Fax: (703) 324-3959 BIP Director: Cyndy Dailey BIP Director: Sam J. Bachman E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nvfs.org Website: www.adapt.clinicprn.org Service area(s): Northern Virginia Service area(s): Fairfax, Falls Church, Towns of Vienna, Herndon, Clifton
Family Focus Counseling Services OAR of Fairfax County
20-B John Marshall Street Violence Intervention Program Warrenton, VA 20186 10640 Page Ave., Suite 250 Office: (540) 349-4537 Fairfax, VA 22030 Fax: (540) 349-2369 Office: (703) 246-3033 BIP Director: John D. Borgens Fax: (703) 273-7554 E-mail: [email protected] BIP Director: Brandon Cosby Website: www.familyfocusva.com E-mail: [email protected] Service area(s): Fauquier, Rappahannock, Website: www.oarfairfax.org Culpeper, Madison Service area(s): Northern VA
Frank Manners and Associates, Inc. Pendleton Child Service Center-Living in Harmony 2473 North Landing Road, Municipal Center Alternatives to Domestic Violence Program Building 23 5412 –A Glenside Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23456 Richmond, VA 23228 Office: (757) 385-4357 Office: (804) 672-8390 Fax: (757) 385-4533 Fax: (804) 672-8393 BIP Director: Susan Dye BIP Director: Frank D. Manners E-mail: [email protected] Service Area(s): Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, E-mail: [email protected] Norfolk Service Area(s): Richmond and Tri-cities
New Life Substance Abuse & Behavioral Pinnacle Behavioral Health Consultants, Inc. 2697 International Parkway, Parkway One, 20915 Ashburn Rd., Suite 200 Suite 204-1 Ashburn, VA 20147 Virginia Beach, VA 23452 Office: (703) 665-0949 Office: (757) 486-1143 Fax: (703) 665-0949 Fax: (757) 486-1663 BIP Director: Mike Vazzana BIP Director: Brad Taylor E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.pinnbh.com
C-2 Website: www.newlifesabc.com Service area(s): Loudon Service area(s): Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, North Carolina
Rappahannock Council on DV Skinner Holistic Health Corporation Men’s Fresh Start 158 Pleasant Shade Drive P.O. Box 1007 Emporia, VA 23847 Fredericksburg, VA 22402 Office: (434) 348-9071 Office: (540) 372-7866 Fax: (434) 336-0835 Fax: (540) 373-0794 BIP Director: Marvin E. Skinner BIP Director: Jolanda Songer E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Service area(s): Emporia, Brunswick, Greenville, Sussex Service area(s): King George, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, Fredericksburg Information from the Virginia Batterer Intervention Program Certification Board updated on October 29, 2012 (December 12, 2012).
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Appendix E - Local Fatality Review Teams
Chesterfield County Intimate Partner & Family Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Patricia Jones-Turner Coordinator Chesterfield County Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center (804) 706-1272 [email protected]
Colonial Area Family and Intimate Partner Violence Fatality Review Team (James City County, Poquoson, Williamsburg, York County) For more information contact: Amy Jacobson Colonial Community Corrections (757) 564-2311 [email protected]
Fairfax County Domestic Violence Fatality Review For more information contact: Sandra Bromley Domestic Violence Coordinator Fairfax County (703) 324-9494 [email protected]
Four Rivers Regional Fatality Review Partnership (New Kent, Charles City, King William, and King and Queen Counties and the Town of West Point) For more information contact: Gwen Kitson Program Director, Project Hope (804) 966-8732 [email protected]
Franklin County Family Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Cindy Treadway Director, Franklin County Family Resource Center (540) 483-5088 [email protected]
Hampton Family Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Marcy Wright Executive Director, Transitions Family Violence Services (757) 722-2261 [email protected]
C-4 Henrico County Family Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Beth C. Bonniwell Domestic Violence Coordinator – Criminal Investigations Division of Police, County of Henrico (804) 501-5732 [email protected]
Lynchburg City Family Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Susan Clark Victim Witness Director Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Lynchburg (434) 455-3766 [email protected]
Mathews County Family Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Sheriff Mark Barrick (804) 725-7177 [email protected]
Monticello Area Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (Albemarle County and City of Charlottesville) For more information contact: Jon Zug Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, Albemarle County (434) 972-4072 [email protected]
Newport News Fatality and Intimate Partner Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Synetheia N. Newby Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney - Victim/Witness (757) 926-7257 [email protected]
Norfolk Family Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Linda L. Bryant Senior Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Norfolk [email protected] Philip G. Evans Senior Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Norfolk (757) 664-4815 [email protected]
C-5 Northern Neck/Essex Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (Counties of Essex, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland) For more information contact: Marcie Lawhead Special Agent, Virginia State Police (804) 553-3539 [email protected]
Pulaski County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Mary Beth Pulsifer Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley (540) 639-9592 [email protected]
City of Richmond Child and Family Violence Fatality Review Team For more information contact: Mary Langer Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney, City of Richmond (804) 646-2949 [email protected]
Roanoke Valley Regional Family and Intimate Partner Violence Fatality Review Team (County of Roanoke, Cities of Roanoke and Salem, Town of Vinton) For more information contact: Melissa Ratcliff Harper Forensic Nurse Examiner Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (540) 521-0365 or (540) 266-6025 [email protected]
Washington/Bristol Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (County of Washington, City of Bristol) For more information contact: Nicole Price Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Washington County (276) 676-6291 [email protected] Jerry Wolfe Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Bristol [email protected] (276) 645-7200
From the Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (October 4, 2012).
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